Celebrating the

Summer Solstice 2009

at the Horizon Observatory of Halde Hoheward, Germany

After an introduction into celestial mechanics at the Bochum Planetarium, some 200 enthusiasts converged at the Horizon Observatory on the Halde Hoheward in the Ruhr Area in Germany on the evening 21 June 2009 - where heavy rain clouds just moved away. Things had been different half a year earlier at winter solstice ...

Unfortunately in January a crack had opened in the arc representing the celestial equator, only secured provisionally - thus the central area of the observatory was inaccessible.

The crowd could still gather on the platform, though ...

... enjoying a particularly clear view of the surrounding cities and industrial sights ...

... as well as of the giant sundial, another of the Hoheward astronomy attractions.

The man behind it all, Burkard Steinrücken, addressing the spectators.

The astronomers are getting ready for the sunset. On the right a two-part horizon marker is seen: If one had been able to access the center of the observatory one could have seen the Sun through the hole 20 minutes before setting, in its northern-most position.

A most spectacular sunset - technically not the northern-most of the year though, because the solstice had already been on the early morning of 21 June German time, so on 20 June the Sun would have set a tiny bit farther North still. But it would have been cloudy anyway ...

Bernd Brinkmann giving a TV interview after the Sun was gone; his pictures can be seen here!

All pictures by Daniel Fischer - hi-res versions on request