In 1946 Heinz Kaminski founded the observatory Bochum as the public observatory of the Volkshochschule. From this developed in 1957 with the launch of the first artificial Earth satellite - Sputnik 1, whose signals were received in Bochum - the Institute of Space Research / Observatory Bochum.
In 2007, the Bochum Observatory celebrated its 60th anniversary.
In March 2009, radio amateurs at the Bochum Observatory with their 20m parabolic antenna received signals from Venus (Earth-Venus-Earth connection). Thus, it is the first time in Germany to receive the echo of another planet. The US space agency NASA has now asked for help and will in future send data to Bochum-Sundern.
The largest building is the Radom. It is a 40-meter high air dome, which protects a 20-meter parabolic antenna from the weather. The antenna has a total weight of over 220 tons and has both the possibilities of data reception, as well as the data transmission. Since a complete improvement of the plant this has a positioning accuracy of about 1/1000 degrees and is thus prepared for the planned Mars mission AMSAT P5A, which is partially mitgesteuert by the IUZ Bochum. In addition, the property is home to 1000 square meters of designed exhibition space and a lecture room for 160 people.