Sky & instruments
Observatories
Griffith Observatory, Kitt Peak, Mauna Kea: domes on dark, high ground. Some have a visitor centre and evenings at the telescope, others are research sites closed to the public – check the website first.
- 70
- observatories in this area
- 37
- states/provinces with entries
- 1700
- oldest built
By state
Baden-Württemberg 6Heidelberg-Königstuhl State Observatory, Astronomical Calculation Institute, Mannheim Observatory, Stuttgart Observatory, Karlsruhe Observatory, Sternwarte Tübingen
Bayern 3Ehrensberg Observatory Traunstein, Bavarian Public Observatory Munich, Dr.-Remeis-Sternwarte
Berlin 2Berlin Observatory, Archenhold Observatory
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté 1Besançon Astronomical Observatory
Brandenburg 2Einstein Tower, Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam
Flämische Region 1Europlanetarium Genk
Hamburg 2Hamburg-Bergedorf Observatory, Altona Observatory
Hessen 3Starkenburg Observatory, Hans-Ludwig-Neumann-Sternwarte, Sternwarte Limburg
Kanton Aargau 1Bleien Radio Observatory
Kanton Basel-Landschaft 1St. Margarethen observatory
Kanton Bern 4Zimmerwald Observatory, Uecht Observatory, Observatory - Planetarium SIRIUS, Observatoire Astronomique de Mont-Soleil
Kanton Freiburg 1Épendes Observatory
Kanton Genf 1Observatory of Geneva
Kanton Graubünden 1Sternwarte Mirasteilas
Kanton Jura 1Jura Observatory
Kanton Luzern 1Hubelmatt Observatory
Kanton Neuenburg 1Cantonal observatory of Neuchâtel
Kanton Tessin 2Osservatorio Astronomico di Gnosca, Monte Generoso Observatory
Kanton Wallis 4Sphinx Observatory, François-Xavier Bagnoud Observatory, Gornergrat Kulm Hotel, Sternwarte Simplon-Adler
Kanton Zürich 3Eschenberg Observatory, Sternwarte Bülach, Sternwarte Rümlang
Kärnten 1Kanzelhoehe Solar Observatory
Niedersachsen 2Göttingen Observatory, Lilienthal Observatory
Niederösterreich 2Purgathofer-Sternwarte, Volkssternwarte Michelbach
Nordholland 1Teylers astronomical observatory
Nordrhein-Westfalen 3Bergisch Gladbach Observatory, Galileum Solingen, Alte Sternwarte
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur 1Marseille Observatory
Region Brüssel-Hauptstadt 1Royal Observatory of Belgium
Rheinland-Pfalz 2Hoher List Observatory, Public Observatory Mainz
Sachsen 4Drebach Observatory, Lohrmann Observatorium, Radebeul Observatory, Sternwarte und Planetarium „Sigmund Jähn“ Rodewisch
Sachsen-Anhalt 2Astronomy Station "Samuel Heinrich Schwabe", Planetarium Halle-Kanena
Salzburg 1Vega-Sternwarte Salzburg
Schleswig-Holstein 1Bothkamp Observatory
Thüringen 4Karl Schwarzschild Observatory, Sonneberg Observatory, Jena Observatory, Seeberg Observatory
Tirol 1Old Innsbruck Observatory
Utrecht 1Utrecht Observatory
Wallonische Region 1Cointe Observatory
Wien 1Vienna Observatory
Good to know
- The trip is worth it by day too: the domes sit on mountains, and the view from up there is often the second picture.
- Stars need a tripod and a new moon. TripPhoto shows the moon phase for every day of your trip.
- White light ruins the observing – use red light only on the grounds and switch the flash off.
Sources: Wikidata (CC0), Photos: Wikimedia Commons (author and licence per image) · Last checked on 19 September 2026