Starkenburg-Sternwarte

Starkenburg-Sternwarte e.V. Heppenheim is a nonprofit astronomy association that makes astronomy accessible through public education, observation, and scientific activities. Located at the historic Starkenburg site, the observatory welcomes visitors to free public lectures, held on Tuesday evenings, and seasonal observing sessions where guests can view current celestial objects through its telescopes. It also offers astronomy courses for beginners, with no prior knowledge required, and age-appropriate talks for children. Young people aged ten and above can join a regular astronomy group, while the observatory’s wider program includes guided tours, open days, conferences, and special events.

The association supports practical exploration as well as learning. Its activities include observations and contributions covering the Sun, Moon, planets, asteroids, satellites, deep-sky objects, and radio astronomy. Visitors can also explore the Heppenheim Planet Walk, a roughly two-kilometre route presenting the Solar System at scale. The observatory shares astronomy news, images, weather information, and observing reports.