Science Tours
Here you find an overview of planned science and culture tours on topics related to astronomy, astrophotography, spaceflight and the history of science.
Planned trips and destinations
2023
Astronomy and Photography on the Canaries
Study trip to Tenerife and La Palma from 7-16 August 2023
Tenerife and La Palma are known mainly for their nature and as the “Islands of Eternal Spring”. Tenerife and its neighboring island La Palma are home to two of the most important astronomical observatories in the world. At the Observatorio del Teide and at the Roque de los Muchachos, scientists explore the sky day and night.
The first part of the journey leads to the Teide National Park and the Izaña Observatory, where the sun and astronomy with robotic telescopes are the focus of research. The second part then leads to La Palma, where the night is extremely dark and perfect for sky observation. The bizarre beauty of the landscape pairs with the images and stars of the clear skies of the Canary Islands, connecting heaven and earth in equal measure.
Astronomy in Ireland
Study trip to Ireland from 9-18 September 2023
Our trip takes us on the trail of astronomy in Ireland – from Neolithic times to the present day of modern astrophysics. We start our tour in Dublin and visit the historic observatory of Dunsink. Via Birr Castle with its magnificent park and the large telescope of William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, our journey takes us to the Rock of Cashel. In Cork we visit the Crawford Observatory and Blackrock Castle with its observatory. We continue via Killarney and the Ring of Kerry to the northwest to Newport, where we visit the Mayo International Dark Sky Park and experience a fantastic dark sky over Ireland in good weather. Finally, our route takes us back to the east coast to Newgrange, to the famous Neolithic barrow, an Irish national monument. Image credit: CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=51765798
Italy in the footsteps of Galileo
Trip to Venice, Florence and Rome from 27 September to 7 October 2023
Our journey takes us on a unique tour of the places where Galileo Galilei, one of the most famous scientists of the Renaissance, worked. Starting in Venice, we explore Padua and Galileo’s famous chair at the university there, then travel via Bologna to Pisa and Florence, where Galileo discovered the laws of the pendulum as well as researching for the Medici. Near Pisa and Rome we visit modern research facilities such as the gravitational wave detector LISA and the laboratory in the Gran Sasso massif. Finally, a private tour takes us to Castel Gandolfo to the Vatican Observatory.
Chile – new Horizons in Astronomy
Study trip to Chile and ESO from 5-17 November 2023
Our journey takes us to South America and the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, one of the driest regions on earth. There, on Cerro Paranal, a 2600 meter high mountain in the coastal range, stands the most modern optical astrophysical observatory in the world. Since 1998, the Very Large Telescope (VLT) of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) has been providing incomparable scientific data and magnificent views of the universe.
We will visit this icon of modern astronomy and learn more about how modern astrophysics works today and how astronomers, technicians and engineers from all over the world work and live in this remote region of the Earth.
2024 & 2026
Solar eclipses in the United States of America and Spain
Solar and lunar eclipses are events that attract the interest of more than just astronomers and scientists. Total solar eclipses in particular are extraordinary celestial spectacles that fascinate many people.
To be able to experience these eclipses in all their beauty and fascination, journeys to the locations of the events are indispensable. On 8 April 2024 and 12 August 2026, two easily observable total eclipses will occur. The first eclipse will cross the USA from Mexico to Canada, the second eclipse will be visible from Greenland via Iceland to Spain including Majorca. For both eclipses, special travel offers are being prepared together with our partners.
More information and a link to the tour operator will follow as soon as they are available.
