The Observatory of Strasbourg is an astronomical
observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial, marine, or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geophysical, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed. His ...
in
Strasbourg
Strasbourg (, , ; german: Straßburg ; gsw, label=Bas Rhin Alsatian, Strossburi , gsw, label=Haut Rhin Alsatian, Strossburig ) is the prefecture and largest city of the Grand Est region of eastern France and the official seat of the Eu ...
,
France.
Following the
Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71, the city of Strasbourg became part of the
German Empire
The German Empire (),Herbert Tuttle wrote in September 1881 that the term "Reich" does not literally connote an empire as has been commonly assumed by English-speaking people. The term literally denotes an empire – particularly a hereditary ...
. The
University of Strasbourg was refounded in 1872 and a new observatory began construction in 1875 in the
Neustadt district. The main instrument was a 50 cm
Repsold refractor, which saw
first light in 1880 (see
Great refractor). At the time this was the largest instrument in the German Empire. In 1881, the ninth General Assembly of the
Astronomische Gesellschaft met in Strasbourg to mark the official inauguration.
The observatory site was selected primarily for instruction purposes and political symbolism, rather than the observational qualities. It was a low-lying site that was prone to mists. During the period up until 1914, the staff was too small to work the instruments and so there was little academic research published prior to
World War I. The main observations were of
comets and
variable stars. After 1909, the instruments were also used to observe
binary star
A binary star is a system of two stars that are gravitationally bound to and in orbit around each other. Binary stars in the night sky that are seen as a single object to the naked eye are often resolved using a telescope as separate stars, in wh ...
s and perform photometry of
nebula
A nebula ('cloud' or 'fog' in Latin; pl. nebulae, nebulæ or nebulas) is a distinct luminescent part of interstellar medium, which can consist of ionized, neutral or molecular hydrogen and also cosmic dust. Nebulae are often star-forming regio ...
e.
[
]
The observatory is currently the home for the
Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg, a database for the collection and distribution of astronomical information. This includes
SIMBAD, a reference database for astronomical objects,
VizieR, an
astronomical catalogue service and
Aladin
Aladdin is a folk tale of Middle Eastern origin.
Aladdin, Aladin, and variants such as Aladdin and His Magic Lamp, may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment Disney franchise
* Aladdin (franchise), ''Aladdin'' (franchise)
** Aladdin (Disney chara ...
, an interactive sky atlas. The modern extension of the building houses Planétarium de Strasbourg. The observatory is surrounded by the
Jardin botanique de l'Université de Strasbourg.
In the vaulted basement below the observatory, a University-administered museum is located. Called ''Crypte aux étoiles'' ("star
crypt
A crypt (from Latin ''crypta'' "vault") is a stone chamber beneath the floor of a church or other building. It typically contains coffins, sarcophagi, or religious relics.
Originally, crypts were typically found below the main apse of a chur ...
"), it displays old telescopes and other antique astronomical devices such as clocks and
theodolites.
Notable astronomers
*
Julius Bauschinger
*
Adolf Berberich
*
André Danjon
*
William Lewis Elkin
William Lewis Elkin (April 29, 1855 – May 30, 1933) was an American astronomer known for his detailed work measuring parallaxes and for pioneering work in meteor photography. He served as director of the Yale University Observatory from 1896 to ...
*
Ernest Esclangon
*
Ernst Hartwig
*
Carlos Jaschek
Carlos Jaschek (March 2, 1926 – April 12, 1999) was a German-born Argentine astrophysicist who spent time in the United States, lived in Switzerland, settled in France, became a French citizen[Pierre Lacroute
Pierre is a masculine given name. It is a French form of the name Peter. Pierre originally meant "rock" or "stone" in French (derived from the Greek word πέτρος (''petros'') meaning "stone, rock", via Latin "petra"). It is a translation ...]
*
Otto Tetens 450px , Otto Tetens (right) with Mataafa in Mulinuu, Samoa 1904
Otto Tetens (26 September 1865, Rendsburg, Kingdom of Prussia – 15 February 1945, Teplitz-Schönau) was a German natural scientist with an astronomy background.
Life
Tetens was ...
*
Friedrich Winnecke
*
Carl Wilhelm Wirtz
*
Walter Wislicenus
Walter Friedrich Wislicenus (November 5, 1859 – October 3, 1905) was a German astronomer. He taught at the University of Strasbourg starting in 1888, and was a professor from 1897 until his death. He was known for his lectures given outsid ...
See also
*
List of astronomical observatories
References
External links
*
Official website of the ObservatoryOfficial website of the PlanetariumPublications of Strasbourg Observatorydigitalized on
Paris Observatory
The Paris Observatory (french: Observatoire de Paris ), a research institution of the Paris Sciences et Lettres University, is the foremost astronomical observatory of France, and one of the largest astronomical centers in the world. Its histor ...
digital library
{{Authority control
University of Strasbourg
Astronomical observatories in France
Buildings and structures in Strasbourg
Planetaria in France
1875 establishments in Germany
Museums in Strasbourg
Science museums in France
Hermann Eggert buildings