Public observatory Hattingen
The public observatory Hattingen e. V. is a non-profit association of Sternfreunde in Hattingen in the southern Ruhr area , which aims to impart knowledge and skills for their own observation practice to those interested.
history
The Volkssternwarte was founded in 1988 by a dozen amateur astronomers from Hattingen, Bochum and Sprockhövel . She is co-editor of the amateur astronomical publication Sternzeit - magazine of astronomical associations and a member of the Vereinigung der Sternfreunde, e. V. (VDS). In the southwest of the Ruhr area, it maintains a small observation station - under the name HASE - where members and guests can get closer to both the night sky and the sun with the help of various telescopes . Visual observation and astrophotography with small and medium-sized instruments are possible.
interests and activities
The members have set themselves the goal of imparting basic knowledge for orientation in the night sky and providing access to the sights of the cosmos - planets , moons , comets , star clusters , nebulae and galaxies . In addition to the observation evenings, this may happen. a. through lectures in children's and youth facilities. The association also endeavors to bring the diverse activities of amateur astronomy closer to a wide audience at exhibitions and public events, such as the annual Astronomy Day . In order to avoid the nightly light pollution of the Ruhr area, one travels in areas with darker night skies. For this reason, the members are regular guests in the VDS Volkssternwarte Kirchheim near Erfurt. There are contacts to the public observatory in Hagen and the public observatory in Ennepetal .
Events
Since 1994, the association has organized the “Hattinger Astronomical Junk Day” (HATT) on the last Saturday in November. It has developed into a meeting place for amateur astronomers in the region and far beyond. Every year over three hundred friends of astronomy come together there to exchange news and discuss future plans. Framed by a lecture program, manufacturers and dealers, amateurs, hobbyists and astronomical tour operators come together at HATT to talk and buy and sell all kinds of astronomy needs.