Florian Freistetter - The Astronomy of the Twelve Nights

The "Rauhnächte" (or "Twelve Nights") are a mystically charged time. Countless legends surround the twelve nights between the years, many regions maintain their own customs, and the world of social media has discovered them as a moment for reflection and self-optimization. Florian Freistetter explains their origin in astronomy and surprising backgrounds, and he designs new, scientific "rituals" for the time of these mysterious nights. He shows that if we take the Rauhnächte for what they truly are - an astronomical phenomenon charged with history and stories - we can actually see this special time in a different light.

Florian Freistetter, born in 1977, earned his doctorate at the Institute of Astronomy at the University of Vienna and then worked as an astronomer at the observatory of the University of Jena and the Astronomical Calculation Institute in Heidelberg. His podcast "Sternengeschichten" (Star Stories) is among the most successful in the German language. His publications with Hanser include "The Comet in the Cocktail Glass: How Astronomy Shapes Our Everyday Life" (Science Book of the Year 2014), "A History of the Universe in 100 Stars" (2019), and "The Colors of the Universe" (2026). Freistetter is a member of the science cabaret group Science Busters and is known for his ability to explain complex scientific topics in an entertaining and accessible way.

"Entertaining as well as enlightening." (David Rennert on "The Colors of the Universe," Der Standard, March 29, 2026) "Exciting and informative." (Volkart Wildermuth on "The Colors of the Universe," Deutschlandfunk Kultur, February 18, 2026) "Freistetter elegantly overlays the different frameworks of star observation. This way, one not only learns interesting facts about stars, but also understands connections. The best part: Sometimes you find a luminous reason in the night sky to share what you have learned from this book with others." (Lars Weisbrod on "A History of the Universe in 100 Stars," Die Zeit, November 21, 2019)

Florian Freistetter, The Astronomy of the Rauhnächte, Hanser, scheduled for release on October 6, 2026.

Moderation: Till Koeppel (1996, Linz) is an editor and moderator at Ö1. He is the producer of the Ö1 Club program, curates the Radio Colleg book box, and produces other programs in the fields of culture, education, and science.