Volkssterrenwacht Copernicus

Volkssterrenwacht Copernicus, on the edge of the Kennemerduinen dunes between Haarlem and Zandvoort in the Netherlands, has welcomed visitors for free ever since it was founded in 1974.

About Volkssterrenwacht Copernicus

Run entirely by volunteers under the Stichting Volkssterrenwacht Copernicus and holding ANBI non-profit status, the observatory is a member of KNVWS, the Royal Dutch Association for Weather and Astronomy. It offers lectures, exhibitions, courses and an astrophotography working group alongside its regular observing sessions.

History

Founded in 1974, the observatory was originally built by its own members on Vergierdeweg in Haarlem, with its dome and telescope becoming operational in 1985. In 2003 it relocated to PWN water-company grounds on Zeeweg in Bloemendaal, where the new building was constructed on the foundation of a former clean-water storage cellar.

Telescopes & research

Besides night-time observing of the moon, planets and stars, the observatory runs daytime solar observation sessions, making use of its dune-top site away from the coastal towns' lights.

Location & getting there

Volkssterrenwacht Copernicus sits in the Kennemerduinen dunes between Haarlem and Zandvoort, in the Netherlands.

Visiting Volkssterrenwacht Copernicus

The observatory has welcomed visitors free of charge since it was founded. Check its website for the current programme of public evenings, lectures and courses before you go.

See your named star from here

From its dark dune-top site, Copernicus's volunteer astronomers can aim a telescope at precise sky coordinates, including those of a star named through star-register.eu. Name a star as a gift, or browse the catalogue of named stars.