<p>There are plenty of possibilities - and often, even when not publicly advertized, many observatories will be very open to find an arrangement when approached, especially by a group of interested audience. So this list IMHO would be the complete list of possible observatories found in central Europe.</p>
<p>The wiki page on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Astronomy_Outreach_Resources_in_Europe" rel="nofollow noreferrer">astronomical outreach resources</a> in Europe has such <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_astronomical_observatories" rel="nofollow noreferrer">list of observatories</a> (well, for the whole world, but filter it) - mostly the professional ones; of course it's not complete, e.g. the Thuringian observatory at Tautenburg is missing (who also <a href="http://www.tls-tautenburg.de/TLS/index.php?id=16" rel="nofollow noreferrer">offer regularily public tours</a>) as does the <a href="https://www.geo600.org/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">GEO600</a>, the gravitational wave observatory near Hannover.</p>
<p>There are various lists for amateur associations, many have their own observatory, e.g. this one <a href="https://www.sternklar.de/gad/astronomische-Vereine_plz.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">lists</a> many in the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographical_distribution_of_German_speakers#Europe" rel="nofollow noreferrer">DACH countries</a> sorted by post code.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-26T10:50:48.137Z
Thanks for the quick answer, and the links to the lists. You guessed right that I am mainly interested in the sites inside the DACH region, but France is close enough plus many of the group know French so that it is an option as well.
B--rian
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-26T10:43:40.130Z
2021-01-26T10:51:43.273Z
2021-01-26T10:51:43.273Z
planetmaker
<p>This is a follow-up to <a href="https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/40366/observatories-that-allow-public-access">Observatories that allow public access</a> with a smaller (geographical) scope.</p>
<p>I am interested in getting to know observatories in central Europe (e.g. France, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Austria) where you could could go with a class of school children or university students.
Maybe you could add more entries to my list, please?</p>
<ul>
<li>The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effelsberg_100-m_Radio_Telescope" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Effelsberg radio telescope</a> has a <a href="https://www.mpifr-bonn.mpg.de/effelsberg/visitors" rel="nofollow noreferrer">visitor programme</a>.</li>
<li>The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidelberg-K%C3%B6nigstuhl_State_Observatory" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Heidelberg observatory</a> has some <a href="https://www.zah.uni-heidelberg.de/outreach-media-contact/contact" rel="nofollow noreferrer">outreach programme</a>, but is close to a city with its lights.</li>
<li>Similar problems with light pollution has the <a href="https://en.parisinfo.com/paris-museum-monument/71190/Observatoire-de-Paris" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Paris Observatory</a>.</li>
</ul>
<p>I tried to find some European website with such a list, but I was not successful yet.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-26T09:53:45.953Z
Do you only count professional observatories or would you consider to go to one of the amateur observatories, too?
planetmaker
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-01-26T10:03:40.673Z
Ideally professional ones, but not necessary.
B--rian
<observational-astronomy><amateur-observing>
Observatories with public access in Europe
B--rian
# Observatories with public access in Europe

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-01-26)

This is a follow-up to [Observatories that allow public access](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/40366/observatories-that-allow-public-access) with a smaller (geographical) scope.

I am interested in getting to know observatories in central Europe (e.g. France, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Austria) where you could could go with a class of school children or university students.
Maybe you could add more entries to my list, please?

* The [Effelsberg radio telescope](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effelsberg_100-m_Radio_Telescope) has a [visitor programme](https://www.mpifr-bonn.mpg.de/effelsberg/visitors).
* The [Heidelberg observatory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidelberg-K%C3%B6nigstuhl_State_Observatory) has some [outreach programme](https://www.zah.uni-heidelberg.de/outreach-media-contact/contact), but is close to a city with its lights.
* Similar problems with light pollution has the [Paris Observatory](https://en.parisinfo.com/paris-museum-monument/71190/Observatoire-de-Paris).

I tried to find some European website with such a list, but I was not successful yet.

**Tags:** observational-astronomy, amateur-observing

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Do you only count professional observatories or would you consider to go to one of the amateur observatories, too?  
> **username_0**: Ideally professional ones, but not necessary.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-01-26. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

There are plenty of possibilities - and often, even when not publicly advertized, many observatories will be very open to find an arrangement when approached, especially by a group of interested audience. So this list IMHO would be the complete list of possible observatories found in central Europe.

The wiki page on [astronomical outreach resources](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Astronomy_Outreach_Resources_in_Europe) in Europe has such [list of observatories](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_astronomical_observatories) (well, for the whole world, but filter it) - mostly the professional ones; of course it's not complete, e.g. the Thuringian observatory at Tautenburg is missing (who also [offer regularily public tours](http://www.tls-tautenburg.de/TLS/index.php?id=16)) as does the [GEO600](https://www.geo600.org/), the gravitational wave observatory near Hannover.

There are various lists for amateur associations, many have their own observatory, e.g. this one [lists](https://www.sternklar.de/gad/astronomische-Vereine_plz.htm) many in the [DACH countries](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographical_distribution_of_German_speakers#Europe) sorted by post code.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks for the quick answer, and the links to the lists. You guessed right that I am mainly interested in the sites inside the DACH region, but France is close enough plus many of the group know French so that it is an option as well.  

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