Observatory of Strasbourg

The Observatory of Strasbourg is an astronomical observatory in Strasbourg, France.

Observatory of Strasbourg

Observatory and botanical garden in Strasbourg
Alternative names	OAS
Organization	University of Strasbourg
Observatory code	522
Location	Strasbourg, France
Coordinates	48°35′0″N 7°46′5″E
Altitude	142 m
Established	1881
Website	astro.u-strasbg.fr
Observatory of Strasbourg Location in Strasbourg
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Following the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71, the city of Strasbourg became part of the German Empire. 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.[1][2]

The refracting telescope inside the dome

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 stars and perform photometry of nebulae.[3]

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, 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"), it displays old telescopes and other antique astronomical devices such as clocks and theodolites.