Volkssternwarte Rothwesten

On the Häuschensberg hill in the Fuldatal municipality near Kassel, Germany, Volkssternwarte Rothwesten has introduced generations of visitors to the night sky since it opened in 1963.

About Volkssternwarte Rothwesten

The observatory was conceived and built by Georg Spitzer in the 1950s as a free public education institution, a mission it has kept ever since. After Spitzer's death in 1989, his wife Friedel Spitzer continued running it, and Angelika Spitzer-Klinger has led the observatory since 2007.

History

Volkssternwarte Rothwesten was completed and formally inaugurated on 15 September 1963. From the outset it was designed as a place where the public, not just specialists, could look through a telescope, a founding idea that has guided three generations of the Spitzer family in running it.

Telescopes & research

The observatory houses three telescopes, including a 210mm Newtonian reflector, used during its regular guided tours and public events.

Location & getting there

Volkssternwarte Rothwesten sits on the Häuschensberg hill in the Fuldatal municipality, part of the Kassel district in Germany, at an elevation of around 301 metres.

Visiting Volkssternwarte Rothwesten

The observatory holds guided tours and public events for visitors of all ages. Since exact dates and hours can change, it's best to check current details online before travelling out to Häuschensberg.

See your named star from here

With its 210mm reflector and public observing programme, Rothwesten's team can point a telescope at exact sky coordinates, including those of a star named through star-register.eu. Name a star for someone special, or browse the catalogue of named stars.