House of Astronomy

What House of Astronomy does

House of Astronomy (Haus der Astronomie, HdA) is a non-profit astronomy education and public-outreach center founded in late 2008 in Heidelberg, Germany, and operated by the Max Planck Society through the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA). The co-founding Klaus Tschira Foundation funded construction of the organization's distinctive galaxy-shaped building on Königstuhl hill, completed in 2011, which houses seminar rooms, exhibition space, offices and a 100-seat digital planetarium powered by a Zeiss projection system with geothermal heating and cooling. HdA serves three primary audiences: the general public (public lectures, planetarium shows, tours, and the weekly online talk show "Astro & Co"), teachers and educators (continuing-education workshops, free monthly teaching materials via the WIS program, and curriculum-aligned content from kindergarten through secondary level), and students (Pan-STARRS asteroid-search participation, internships, and gifted-student programs). It also hosts the International Astronomical Union's Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE) under Director Markus Pössel, placing HdA in a globally distinctive institutional role.

The center operates a portfolio of educational products including hands-on workshops for schools and kindergartens, planetarium presentations, interactive Astro-Apps (notably a solar-eclipse tracking application), virtual building tours, the University of Heidelberg PASTRO teacher-training course, and the WIS ("Wissenschaft in die Schulen!") educational materials distributed through Spektrum der Wissenschaft since 2009. Its technology stack is built on visualization rather than software-as-a-service: Zeiss planetarium hardware, MPIA's in-house graphics department, web portals (wissenschaft-schulen.de, astro-apps.org), and outreach via YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, and Mastodon. Distribution combines physical on-site visits, traveling staff-delivered school workshops, and digitally distributed free content.

HdA's revenue model is overwhelmingly grant- and public-funding-driven rather than commercial: Max Planck Society operating funding is supplemented by the Klaus Tschira Foundation, City of Heidelberg, State of Baden-Württemberg, and Heidelberg University. The organization also generates marginal commercial revenue via ticket sales (e.g., €6 per Asteroid Day ticket) and facility rental for private events, alongside project funding from foundations such as the Joachim Herz Stiftung. Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: a Partner School Network across all 16 German federal states, teacher-ambassador advocacy, a monthly newsletter, and roughly 100+ public events per year including weekly online programming. Geographic reach spans Germany as the core market, with DACH-region collaboration (150+ institutions for National Astronomy Day), formal UNAWE coordination for Germany inside a 50+ country global network, and limited bilateral programs in Chile and Brazil.

Name

House of Astronomy

Legal name

Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V.

Website

https://haus-der-astronomie.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

House of Astronomy (Haus der Astronomie) is a Max Planck Society-operated, non-profit astronomy education and outreach center in Heidelberg, Germany, founded 2008. It serves the general public, schools, and teachers via planetarium shows, workshops, the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education, and free digital materials.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Astronomy Education and Public Outreach

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

akta.pro primary industry

Space & Astronomy Programs (EDAMABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Science & Technology Museums (THAJADAD), Lab & Science Virtual Labs (Chemistry, Biology, Physics) (EDAFAJAE)

Keywords

• Astronomy education
• Public outreach
• Science workshops
• Planetarium shows
• Teacher training

Headquarters

HQ city

Heidelberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Funding: Operating funding from Max Planck Society, with additional support from Klaus Tschira Foundation, City of Heidelberg, State of Baden-Württemberg, and Heidelberg University
2. Ticket Sales: Revenue from event tickets such as Asteroid Day presentations at 6,00 Euro per ticket
3. Venue Rental: HdA facility rental for events and private functions (Das HdA mieten)

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

House of Astronomy (Haus der Astronomie) is a non-profit astronomy education and outreach center operating from a purpose-built galaxy-shaped facility on Königstuhl hill in Heidelberg. It delivers hands-on workshops for schools and kindergartens, digital planetarium shows, guided tours, teacher training programs, weekly online talkshows, and educational materials, while also hosting the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE).

Product overview

Haus der Astronomie (House of Astronomy) is a public outreach and education center offering a comprehensive portfolio of astronomy education programs. The core offerings include hands-on workshops for schools and kindergartens, digital planetarium shows, and interactive Astro-Apps for visualization. Public engagement programs feature the weekly Astro & Co online talk show and public lectures. University-level education includes PASTRO astronomy courses for teacher training. Research-oriented programs such as the Pan-STARRS Asteroid Search engage students in authentic scientific discovery. The WIS (Wissenschaft in die Schulen!) program provides monthly teaching materials to educators. Virtual tours and newsletters extend accessibility beyond physical visits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Workshops for Schools and Kindergartens (Workshops für Schulen und Kindergärten) Hands-on astronomy workshops for kindergarten children, elementary school students, and secondary school students, covering topics such as orientation, observation, the Sun, planetary systems, stars, galaxies, and cosmology. Targeted at school groups and educational institutions.
• Planetarium Shows Digital planetarium presentations using the Zeiss digital planetarium system showing astronomical observations and simulations to the general public and school groups.
• Astro-Apps Interactive astronomy visualization applications including a Solar Eclipse app for tracking eclipse events and other astronomical phenomena, available globally through astro-apps.org.
• Astro & Co Online Talkshow Weekly online talkshow featuring different guests discussing current topics in astronomy and astrophysics, hosted by Carolin Liefke and Markus Pössel and streamed via Facebook and YouTube.
• PASTRO - Astronomy for Teacher Training (Astronomie für Lehramt) Astronomy courses for physics education students (Lehramt) at the University of Heidelberg, including introductory block courses for teacher training.
• WIS - Wissenschaft in die Schulen! (Bringing Science to Schools) Monthly educational materials based on Sterne und Weltraum articles, provided free of charge to teachers for incorporating current research into physics and astronomy lessons.
• Pan-STARRS Asteroid Search (Pan-STARRS Asteroidensuche) Student research program allowing high school students to search for undiscovered asteroids using data from the Pan-STARRS telescope in Hawaii, coordinated through the International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC).
• Virtual Tour (Virtuelle Tour) Virtual tour of the Haus der Astronomie galaxy-shaped building, allowing online visitors to explore the facility remotely.
• Guided Tours (Führungen) Guided tours of the Haus der Astronomie building and grounds, including access to the observation platform for smaller telescopes at the neighboring Landessternwarte.
• Educational Materials (Bildungsmaterialien) Educational materials organized by target group (kindergarten/elementary, secondary schools) covering topics including orientation/observation, Sun and planetary systems, stars, Milky Way/galaxies/cosmology, and space travel.
• Teacher Training (Fortbildungen) Continuing education workshops for kindergarten, primary, and secondary school teachers covering astronomy didactics and pedagogy, delivered at HdA and through outreach to schools.
• Venue Rental (Das HdA mieten) Rental of the HdA facility, including the digital planetarium lecture theatre, for events and private functions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 150 astronomical institutions participate in National Astronomy Day events organized in collaboration with HdA
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Max Planck Society (MPG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 December 2008Max Planck Society is the operator of the Haus der Astronomie, with operations delegated to the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA). MPG is responsible for the Centre's ongoing operations and staffing.
• Heidelberg UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 December 2008University of Heidelberg contributes through its Centre for Astronomy (ZAH) for public outreach and teacher training activities. Students participate in HdA programs.
• City of HeidelbergcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 December 2008City of Heidelberg provides support for HdA operations and activities as a founding partner.
• IAU Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHdA hosts the International Astronomical Union's Office of Astronomy for Education, one of only a few globally. Carolin Liefke serves as Deputy Director, Markus Pössel as Director.
• Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHdA is located on MPIA grounds. MPIA staff work alongside HdA in outreach and public engagement. HdA building is adjacent to the institute's facilities.
• State of Baden-WürttembergcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState ministries for research and education support HdA. HdA recognized as Extracurricular Research Center (AFZ) by the education ministry.
• Universe Awareness (UNAWE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal astronomy education program for preschool and primary school children operating in 50+ countries. HdA serves as central UNAWE coordination office for Germany.
• Bringing Science to Schools (WIS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly educational materials based on Sterne und Weltraum articles, freely available to teachers. Run by Spektrum der Wissenschaft with HdA since 2009.
• International Astronomical Search Collaboration (IASC)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership enabling high school students worldwide to search for undiscovered asteroids using Pan-STARRS telescope data. HdA coordinates German-speaking student participation.
• ESO Science Outreach Network (ESON)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHdA is German representative for European Southern Observatory's science outreach network. Manages German-language ESO website and press releases.
• ESO SupernovamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister institution at ESO headquarters in Garching. Developed joint school workshops with HdA. Both institutions collaborate on astronomy education.
• German Aerospace Center (DLR)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDLR school labs and DLR_next portal bring space topics to schools. Partner in Space for Education project funded by Joachim Herz Foundation.
• Life Science Lab (DKFZ)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHeidelberg Life Science Lab supports gifted students. HdA staff member Carolin Liefke supports Astrophysics working group since 2010.
• Faulkes Telescope ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides schools access to professional robotic telescopes. HdA supports German schools with German-language materials.
• Explore ScienceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual science event by Klaus Tschira Foundation in Mannheim. HdA runs hands-on astronomy activities since 2010.
• EU Space Awareness (EUSPACE-AWE)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU-funded (€2M) education project 2015-2018. HdA developed 44 educational materials on topics including climate change and navigation. 10 institutes across 17 countries.
• Science Academy / JuniorAcademy Baden-WürttembergminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram for gifted students in years 8-9. HdA enriches with astronomy courses in summer holiday programs. Carolin Liefke leads astronomy course.
• Hector-SeminarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject supporting highly gifted STEM students. HdA manages final-year student research projects in astronomy topics.
• Research Station (Klaus Tschira Competence Center)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly science education institute. Partners with HdA for Sun, moon and stars teacher training and Discover space courses.
• SFB 881 - The Milky Way SystemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative Research Centre at ZAH. HdA functions as partner for public outreach activities.
• Heidelberg Center for Latin AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Heidelberg's external campus in Chile. HdA organizes teacher training courses in Chile since 2011.
• Clube de Astronomia Louis Cruls (CALC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrazilian amateur astronomy education organization. Joint projects connecting German and Brazilian schools.
• Foundation for Interactive Astronomy and AstrophysicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPromotes youth interest in science. HdA supports teaching students to use ROTAT telescope. Carolin Liefke serves as scientific advisor.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Deutsches Museum: One of the world's largest science and technology museums, with planetarium shows and space exhibitions that overlap with HdA's school programs and public lectures, but on a much broader STEM scope.
• Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex: Large-scale space-themed visitor complex offering planetarium-style shows, school programs, and educator resources. Comparable in mission and program mix to HdA but at a substantially larger commercial scale.
• Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: Major US museum delivering planetarium shows, teacher resources, and public engagement on astronomy and spaceflight. Operates on a much larger scale and broader aerospace scope but shares HdA's education-outreach mandate.

Direct peers

• National Space Centre (Leicester): UK visitor center combining a planetarium, space-themed exhibitions, and curriculum-linked school workshops—a closely comparable model to HdA's integrated planetarium + school + teacher training portfolio.
• Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre: UK visitor center at a working observatory offering family events, school programs, and public engagement with active astronomical research—a strong analogue to HdA's setting on the MPIA campus with telescope access for visitors.
• Adler Planetarium: Chicago-based astronomy-focused museum and planetarium offering public shows, school programs, and teacher training comparable to HdA's portfolio of planetarium presentations, school workshops, and educator development.
• Royal Observatory Greenwich: Historic UK astronomy site delivering planetarium shows, public lectures, school workshops, and teacher CPD that closely mirror HdA's combination of public engagement, formal education programs, and research-linked outreach.
• ESO Supernova: Astronomy outreach and education center at ESO headquarters in Garching, with joint school workshop collaborations with HdA. Functions as a sister institution in the same astronomy public-engagement category.
• Griffith Observatory: Los Angeles public observatory and planetarium offering free public programs, school partnerships, and telescope-viewing events that closely parallel HdA's mix of free public access, school workshops, and observational programming.

Emerging players

• Faulkes Telescope Project: UK-based initiative providing schools with access to professional robotic telescopes and teaching materials—an existing HdA partner and a direct functional peer in the 'authentic astronomical research for schools' niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HdAstro
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/HausDerAstronomie
• Facebookfacebook.com/HausDerAstronomie
• Instagraminstagram.com/hausderastronomie

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about House of Astronomy