Horizon Observatory

In the process of reclamation of slag heaps of the Ruhr region, the largest of them was turned into a thematic, astronomical park. The central object of the park is the Horizon Observatory (Horizontobservatorium). The construction was built in 2008 at an altitude of 152 meters.

The surface of the plane is absolutely horizontal and is the perfect mathematical horizon for an observer located at its centre. The horizontal plane of the observatory is a tangential surface on the spherical surface of the Earth which arcs away from beneath it. Therefore, distant places appear below the horizon, more so the further the place is away from the horizon observatory. The Ruhr area disappears nearly entirely below the artificial horizon due to this curvature of the Earth’s surface and obviously because of the elevated location in the landscape. Only a few chimneys of industrial plants project above the horizon and one feels strangely removed from the metropolitan area.

The senses are inevitably directed towards celestial appearances and the position of the Sun or other celestial bodies that only remain as orientation.

The Two Large Arcs representing the Local Meridian and the Celestial Equator.








Getting there: Parking N 51 33.874 E 7 10.561, then over the dragon-bridge and upwards. The nearest railway station is Recklinghausen Süd, then 2 km on foot to the dragon-bridge. The nearest bus stop is Zeche II, Recklinghausen. Use bahn.de to find the schedule.