(by Martin Gammer; published in the VdS Journal for Astronomy No. 77, 2/2021)
In 2008, eight friends with a passion for astronomy met in Cham, Upper Palatinate, to found an astronomy club. This decision followed many informal gatherings, where they met on weekends to observe the night sky with their own telescopes at suitable dark locations in the district. A group quickly realized that this wonderful hobby would be better pursued within a club. On March 14, 2008, the club was officially founded in Cham. Gerhard Pfeifer from Furth im Wald was elected as the first chairman, a position he held until 2014. The club was named " Sternfreunde Cham e.V." (Cham Astronomy Club ).
The founding members of the Cham Astronomy Club around Gerhard Pfeifer (3rd from left, picture: Chamer Zeitung from March 18, 2008)
In the first few months of its existence, the club members decided to build their own observatory within the next few years. The goal was a small, sliding-roof observatory measuring approximately 4.0 m x 8.0 m. Over the following years, the club searched intensively for a suitable location that offered minimal light pollution, a panoramic view, and acceptable road access. After two years of searching, the municipality of Chamerau suggested that the club build an observatory on the Roßberg hill (at an altitude of just over 600 meters). The location proposed by the mayor was deemed ideal, and since an agreement was quickly reached with the landowner, the club acquired the 1,250 m² plot in the spring of 2011.
After the permitting process, which was lengthy due to the site's location in a rural area, the association was able to begin construction of its own observatory in August 2011. Following several consultations, the observatory's dimensions had changed to 7 m x 13 m, and the plan for a sliding roof observatory was replaced with a domed one. This decision was made both to mitigate potential light pollution and for wind protection. Member of Parliament Karl Holmeier agreed to be the patron of the project and provided invaluable support to the association throughout the various permitting processes.
First concrete work on the Roßberg above Chamerau (Image: Association, June 22, 2012)
Construction was carried out exclusively by club members on Saturdays, which is why it took a full four years. Only the concrete ceilings and the dome were built by specialist companies. Since the observatory had to be financed by donations, and these were slow to come in, this also contributed to the delay in completion. However, no deadline had been set, so there was no pressure to meet it. The main thing was that the observatory was finished eventually.
The new clubhouse at the observatory is taking shape (Image: Club, October 21, 2012)
Only when a main sponsor was found—a founding member who decided to financially support the club—did construction begin to move forward. The members' dream of owning a 20-inch telescope became a reality with the help of Dr. Eckhart von Deuster. A 20-inch Alluna RC on a 10 Micron GM4000 mount became the centerpiece of the facility. Half of the telescope's cost was covered by the EU's LEADER program. The 4.20-meter dome with a 1.70-meter aperture was fabricated by a local metalworking company at cost. A Scope Dome control system, which has proven reliable over the years, is used for dome operation.
The dome and the 20-inch reflecting telescope from Alluna are being installed (Image: Association, October 28/29, 2014)
The dome was manufactured by the company Metallbau Gruber/Cham at cost price (Image: Association, Autumn 2014).
Since the association's headquarters had moved to the municipality of Chamerau due to the construction of the observatory, a name change was decided upon in 2015: Since then , our association has been called "Verein der Sternwarte Roßberg e.V." (Association of the Roßberg Observatory) . On September 17, 2016, the observatory was finally inaugurated. Naturally, the patron, the district administrator, and the mayor were present at the festive opening and congratulated the association and its members on their outstanding work and the success of the project. Martin Gammer, who had been chairman since 2014, thanked all members for the extraordinary commitment they had shown to the association over the past years. As a token of gratitude to the main sponsor, the observatory was christened the "Dr. Eckhart von Deuster Observatory," and the name was immortalized on an illuminated metal plaque mounted on the exterior of the observatory.
Final sprint! The observatory is getting ready for its opening (Image: Association, August 4, 2016).
Opening of the Roßberg Observatory, from left: Dr. Eckart von Deuster (main sponsor & namesake), Martin Gammer (Chairman), Uschi von Deuster (main sponsor), Stefan Graichen (Treasurer), Isabella Bauer (LEADER Manager of the Cham district), from right: District Administrator Franz Löffler, Pastor Kilian Limbrunner, Mayor Stefan Baumgartner, Member of Parliament Karl Holmeier (Image: Chamer Zeitung from March 19, 2016)
Since then, the observatory has been a hub for all astronomy enthusiasts in the region and serves as a training facility for school classes in the district. The association's goal for the coming years is to establish a youth group. Representatives are already visiting schools in the district to promote the project. A further, smaller, sliding-roof observatory is planned for the near future. This will house the solar telescope, a Lunt 152 on a CGEM DX mount, which was acquired in 2018, as well as a 16-inch Meade on a 100mm Fornax mount, which was donated to the association by a member.
To create even more space, an adjacent property was purchased in 2019. The association now owns nearly 3,000 m² of land and is equipped for any future expansion of the observatory ( Martin Gammer, 2021 ).
The observatory is growing and developing further.
In the years that followed, thanks to the tireless efforts of its many volunteer members, the Roßberg Observatory continued to grow and expand its offerings. With funding from the ARGE-ILE for rural areas, the observation terrace and parking lot were paved in 2023 – all of which was accomplished through volunteer labor.
The observation terrace is being reinforced (Image: Association, April 29, 2023).
The parking lot is being paved (Image: Association, July 8, 2023).
Further ARGE-ILE funding enabled the association in 2024 to provide a permanent home for several telescopes that regularly had to be mothballed. Having already expanded to include a remote observatory (Rossberg II) , the project of a solar observation observatory (Rossberg III) was undertaken. The goal was to house the association's own Lunt 152 solar telescope in an accessible, retractable-roof observatory. This would finally allow typical day visitors, such as school groups, to consistently enjoy observing. The plan also included housing the 16-inch Meade LX200 reflecting telescope in the same building, enabling multiple visitors to observe different targets simultaneously at night and thus avoiding congestion in the dome.
The foundation and base plate of the solar observatory (Rossberg III) are being laid (Image: Association, Summer 2024).
Topping-out ceremony - on August 24, 2024, the individual components - walls, sliding roof, folding element - which were manufactured with millimeter precision over several months in a barn in the surrounding area, are joined together (Image: Association, 24.08.2024).
Interior construction and support of technology & electronics begins in autumn 2024 (Image: Association, autumn 2024).
At the Annual General Meeting on March 21, 2025, the long-serving 1st Chairman of the association (2014-2024), Martin Gammer, left, is congratulated by his successor in office Wolfgang Kagermeier - after being awarded honorary membership (Image: Association, March 21, 2025).
In spring 2025, everything is prepared for the opening ceremony (Image: Association, 28.03.2025).
Just in time for "Astronomy Day 2025," the new solar observatory was officially opened on March 29, 2025, by District Administrator Franz Löffler, in the presence of the donors, the von Deuster couple, Chamerau's Mayor Stefan Baumgartner, and Member of the Bavarian Parliament Dr. Gerhard Hopp. Although the weather only allowed for a few minutes of observation of the day's major astronomical event—the partial solar eclipse—the newest observatory on the Roßberg proved its worth in the following months, and visitor numbers exceeded all expectations.
From left: Dr. Eckart von Deuster, Mayor Stefan Baumgartner, Member of the State Parliament Dr. Gerhard Hopp, Chairman Wolfgang Kagermeier and District Administrator Franz Löffler (Image: Association, March 29, 2025)
The new solar observatory in operation (Image: Association, March 29, 2025)
But the commitment of the members of the "Sternwarte Roßberg eV" does not rest - stairs and railings for safety and more practical use and connection of the individual buildings were tackled in the summer of 2025, entirely from club funds and on members' free Saturdays.
The railings are especially beneficial for the many younger visitor groups - as well as for older adults (Image: Association, Summer 2025).
The grounds of the Roßberg observatory are looking increasingly professional (Association, Summer 2025).
Just in time before the autumn weather arrived, a shelter was also built on the observation terrace, providing protection for amateur astronomers and their equipment in case of strong sun or rain.
First rain test passed! (Association, Autumn 2025)
The astrophotography observatory (Rossberg IV) is taking shape (Association, Autumn 2025)
The construction of a dedicated astrophotography observatory (Rossberg IV) and further expansions on the site are projects that will keep the association busy in the coming months and will allow the Rossberg Observatory to continue growing as the location in the Cham district for astronomical observation, further education for children, young children, juveniles and older people interested in astronomy and spaceflight, as well as a meeting place for space enthusiasts and star lovers from near and far.
Clear Skies!
The observation site "Rossberg I - Rossberg III" above the clouds of the Regen Valley (Image: Association, 2024)
Development of the club logo
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| 2008 - 2014 | 2014 - 2016 | since 2016 |
Design: Benjamin Franz (2008), Roland Kastner & JvFG Cham (2014) & Florian Winterl (2016)
The current board (since March 2024)
From left: Werner Schneider (Advisory Board), Alfred Hofweber (2nd Youth Leader), Lukas Graichen (1st Youth Leader), Georg Singer (Advisory Board), Martin Gammer (Honorary Member & Advisory Board), Stefan Graichen (Treasurer), Alois Preis (2nd Chairman & Technical Director), Roland Kastner (Secretary), Wolfgang Kagermeier (1st Chairman), Photo: Club, March 2024
membership
The current annual membership fee is €60.00 per member , and the total annual fee for families is €90.00 . The reduced fee for young people, pupils and students aged 16-21 is €30.00 per year; membership is free for children and young people under 16.
All full members can acquire the qualification and authorization to use the club's telescopes themselves after free training; full members also have voting rights in the general meeting.
In addition, it is also possible to acquire the status of a supporting member (with limited membership) starting from €10.00 per year .
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