Due to the remoteness of Madine Lake from large cities' light pollution, the sky is particularly clear over its waters at night. Marc Kaschinski, passionate about the stars, decided to build an observatory near the village of Viéville-sous-les-Côtes. It took him ten years to erect the 16 ft diameter tower (5 m) and its dome. It shelters one of the largest amateur telescopes in France, specially crafted by him, with a 2.72 ft (83 cm) diameter.