Jupiter and Saturn are the two biggest planets in the solar system. In space, they are separated by 660 million kilometers on average. Looking from Earth though, the two gas giants can come very close when the faster Jupiter overtakes the more distant Saturn on its orbit. This happens about every 20 years. This year's overtaking maneuver is special: For the naked eye, the two planets will likely merge into a single bright object. more

Small bites of astronomy each day - you can also follow them via the hashtag #HdAstroAdvent on our social media! more

As a center for astronomy education and outreach work, it is our aim to create a general awareness of the light pollution problem and the fact that there is more behind it than just preserving the sight of the night sky. Unnecessary lighting is a waste of energy, harms wildlife and probably also affects the human metabolism. This is why the House of Astronomy supports Earth Night, which will take place on 17 September 2020 with lights to be switched off at 10pm. more

the extraordinary story of planets around other stars more

We at the House of Astronomy are constantly developing new astronomical materials for use in kindergartens, primary and secondary schools. Now we can extend our palette with a new book for children aged 6 to 12 years. more

This year, the Perseids meteor shower will reach its peak on the morning of August 12th. On the nights of 11th to 12th and 12th to 13th August the Moon rises after midnight, so the late evening hours are not brightened by moonlight - ideal for looking out for the Perseids. To do so, look eastward, where the constellation Perseus rises, after which these shooting stars were named. more

Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) enchants amateur astronomers from all over the world: It has been a long time that a comet visible to the naked eye made its appearance in the evening sky. more

Haus der Astronomie's statement against racism and directive on diversity and inclusion more

When the Lyrid meteors appear during the night of 21/22 April, amateur astronomers can profit from a dark sky this year. Only two days later we have new Moon, so the Moon will not light up the night sky and even fainter shooting stars will be visible. more

*** Please note that the Astronomy Day 2020 events at HdA have been canceled due to the corona situation. The new date for this event will probably be 24 October 2020. Tickets already purchased remain valid but can also be returned ***

On 28 March 2020, astronomical institutions throughout Germany and Switzerland invite you to immerse yourself in the fascinating world of astronomy - HdA offers night sky observations and three shows in the planetarium, the first one especially for children and their parents. While the first and the last show will be in German, the second one will be in English. more

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) invites you to join people all over the world in the week from 13 to 20 February 2020 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the creation of the famous Pale Blue Dot image of the Earth from a distance of 6 billion kilometers, and to think of Earth as our place in space more

The Geminids, which can be observed in mid-December, are the most "reliable" of the large meteor showers with up to 120 shooting stars per hour. Unfortunately, this year the Moon interferes during the best observation time. more

The IAU has selected Haus der Astronomie (HdA) as the location for its new Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE). First announced last year, the OAE will be established to promote astronomy in education and to achieve the education-related goals set out in the IAU Strategic Plan 2020–2030. The astronomy outreach centre will capitalise on its existing resources and experience to launch the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education, co-funded by the Klaus Tschira Foundation and the Carl Zeiss Foundation. more

From 14 to 16 November 2019, our 7th nationwide WE-Heraeus teacher training course on astronomy took place at the HdA - three days filled with scientific lectures, workshops on teaching practice and many opportunities for exchange. more

Thanks to the generous support of the Wilhelm und Else Heraeus Stiftung, a group of teachers was able to carry out a week of astronomical measurements, visual observations and astrophotography on the island of La Palma. Upon returning to school, they are now enthusiastic about doing practical astronomy in class. more

A transit of Mercury will take place on 11 November 2019, with the small rocky planet Mercury wandering as a small dot across the solar disk. Weather permitting, the first half of the event can be observed from Germany from early afternoon until sunset. more

The International Astronomical Union has launched the Astronomy Day in Schools initiative and asks amateur and professional astronomers to participate with astronomy events events dedicated to children at schools in the week of 10-17 November 2019 more

In mid-September, DLR_Raumfahrt_Show, the space show of Germany's National Space Agency DLR, will come to Heidelberg – courtesy of Haus der Astronomie, the Klaus Tschira Foundation and Heidelberg University. Almost 2500 pupils in grades 3 to 6 will be able to see the show in the university's Neue Aula lecture hall. more

Like last year, there will be a lunar eclipse in 2019 late in the evening hours of a warm summer night: This time it's the night from the 16th to the 17th of July. The eclipse is only partial - the moon does not enter Earth's shadow completely - but it is the only well-observable lunar eclipse in the German-speaking world for the next few years. more

The exhibition developed by Haus der Astronomie (HdA) can be seen on the "Floral isle" of Mainau in Lake Constance from May 10 to September 22, 2019 more