Volkssternwarte Wetterau
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Volkssternwarte Wetterau occupies the tower of a 13th-century Gothic church in Bad Nauheim, Germany, a site with astronomical connections stretching back to a Roman signal tower that once stood there.
About Volkssternwarte Wetterau
The observatory is run by the association Volkssternwarte Wetterau e.V., established in 1988, from its perch atop the historic Johannisberg church tower.
History
The Johannisberg site has a long past: in the 2nd century it held a Roman signal tower, part of the Upper Germanic Limes defensive system, before the Gothic church now housing the observatory was built in the 13th century. In 2010 the association created a planetary walk stretching from the nearby Goldsteinturm to the observatory itself.
Location & getting there
Volkssternwarte Wetterau sits atop the Johannisberg church tower in Bad Nauheim, Germany, at an elevation of about 265 metres.
Visiting Volkssternwarte Wetterau
Public viewing is held every Tuesday at 8:00 pm with no registration needed, and special tours can be arranged by appointment.
See your named star from here
From a tower that has watched over this hill for centuries, Wetterau's volunteer astronomers can point a telescope at precise sky coordinates, including a star named through star-register.eu. Name a star as a gift, or browse the catalogue of named stars.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check the official website and Google Maps for current times before you travel.
