Long Night of the Stars — Thuringian State Observatory Tautenburg
Astronomy experience at the Thuringian State Observatory — Saale-Holzland district
About Long Night of the Stars Tautenburg
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Long Night of the Stars Tautenburg al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Astronomy Research Station in the Saale-Holzland District
The Thuringian State Observatory Tautenburg — officially the Karl Schwarzschild Observatory — is located in a forest above the small village of Tautenburg in the Saale-Holzland district. It is one of Germany's most important astronomical research stations. Once a year, the observatory invites you to the Long Night of the Stars: On one evening, the observatory opens its doors to the public, presents its telescopes, offers insights into ongoing research work, and provides a packed program of guided tours and lectures.
2-Meter Alfred Jensch Telescope and LOFAR
At the heart of the observatory stands the 2-meter Alfred Jensch Telescope, one of Germany's largest optical telescopes. During the Long Night, the dome opens, and visitors can watch the telescope at work — in clear weather, live observations are even projected onto the dome ceiling. A second highlight: the LOFAR radio telescope (Low Frequency Array), part of a Europe-wide radio telescope network used to receive, among other things, low-frequency radio waves from the distant universe.
Lectures on Black Holes, Exoplanets, and Star Formation
Lectures by the observatory's scientists take place hourly — on topics such as black holes, star formation, exoplanets, giant radio galaxies, stellar companions, and current observation campaigns. In clear weather, constellation tours and observations with smaller telescopes are offered on the meadow in front of the observatory. Collaboration with the Jena Urania Observatory complements the observation program.
Tautenburg and the Saale-Holzland
Tautenburg is a small village in the Saale-Holzland district in the state of Thuringia, about 15 kilometers northeast of Jena. The observatory is easily accessible via the A4 motorway (Jena-Lobeda exit) and small country roads — the dark starry sky above the Tautenburg forest makes the location one of the best observation sites in Central Germany.
Long Night of the Stars Tautenburg — edition 2026
Long Night 2026 at the Karl Schwarzschild Observatory
The Long Night of the Stars 2026 opens the doors of the Thuringian State Observatory to the public. Throughout the evening, guided tours of the observatory will be offered, the 2-meter Alfred Jensch Telescope will be shown in operation, and in clear weather, it will be projected live onto the dome ceiling.
LOFAR, Lectures, and Constellation Tours
The LOFAR radio telescope will also be presented — observatory scientists will explain how it is used to receive low-frequency radio waves from the distant universe. Hourly lectures will cover topics such as black holes, star formation, and exoplanets, as well as current research findings. On the outdoor meadow, in clear weather, a small observation telescope, in cooperation with the Urania Observatory Jena, will offer views of constellations, planets, and the moon.
Programme Long Night of the Stars Tautenburg 2026
Program Highlights 2026 — Long Night of the Stars Tautenburg
- Saturday, October 3, 2026 (German Unity Day), evening until midnight
- Guided tours of the Thuringian State Observatory
- 2-meter Alfred Jensch Telescope: Visit and live demonstration, with projection of observations onto the dome ceiling in clear weather
- LOFAR Radio Telescope: Presentation of the European radio telescope network and research on low-frequency radio waves
- Hourly lectures by observatory scientists on topics such as black holes, star formation, exoplanets, giant radio galaxies, stellar companions, and comets
- Constellation tours on the outdoor meadow in clear weather, with smaller observation telescopes in cooperation with the Urania Observatory Jena
- Children's tours in the early evening
- Catering on site: snacks and drinks (the exact program will be published by the observatory shortly before the date)
- Organizer: Thuringian State Observatory Tautenburg
Current information: tls-tautenburg.de.
Highlights Long Night of the Stars Tautenburg 2026
- 2-meter Alfred Jensch Telescope (Germany's largest optical telescope)
- LOFAR Radio Telescope (Low Frequency Array)
- Hourly lectures by observatory scientists
- Constellation tours on the outdoor meadow
- Cooperation with the Urania Observatory Jena
- Free admission, no prior registration
Prices Long Night of the Stars Tautenburg 2026
Free admission. No prior registration required.
Practical information — Long Night of the Stars Tautenburg
Date 2026
Saturday, October 3, 2026 (German Unity Day).
Location
Thuringian State Observatory Karl Schwarzschild Observatory, Sternwarte 5, 07778 Tautenburg, Saale-Holzland district.
Getting There
By car: A4 exit Jena-Lobeda, then country roads towards Tautenburg. Limited parking spaces on the observatory grounds.
Admission
Free. No prior registration required.
Note
The observatory is not wheelchair accessible. Bring warm clothing — many program points take place outdoors.
Tip
Combine your visit with a day in Jena (university city with Carl Zeiss Planetarium and Optical Museum, 15 km away).
Festival-goer photos
No photos yet. Share yours!
Share your photos
Max. 5 photos, 5 MB per photo (JPG, PNG, WebP)
Spotted an error or missing information?
Help us keep this listing up to date. Each suggestion is reviewed by our team before being published.
Festival-goer reviews
No rating yet — be the first!
No comments yet. Be the first!
Were you there?
Share your experience with the community.
Travel to this festival
Reserva tu tren o autobús para llegar a Long Night of the Stars Tautenburg al mejor precio.
Sponsored link
Where it takes place Long Night of the Stars Tautenburg
Thüringer Landessternwarte Karl-Schwarzschild-Observatorium
Sternwarte 5, 07778 Tautenburg