Observatory of Strasbourg
Encyclopedia
The Observatory of Strasbourg is an astronomical observatory
in Strasbourg
, France
.
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. 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 comet
s and variable star
s. After 1909, the instruments were also used to observe binary star
s and perform photometry of nebula
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
, 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 theodolite
s.
Observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...
in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Following the Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
of 1870–71, the city of Strasbourg became part of the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
. The University of Strasbourg
University of Strasbourg
The University of Strasbourg in Strasbourg, Alsace, France, is the largest university in France, with about 43,000 students and over 4,000 researchers....
was refounded in 1872 and a new observatory began construction in 1875. The main instrument was a 50 cm Repsold refractor, which saw first light in 1880 (see Great refractor
Great refractor
Great refractor refers to a large telescope with a lens, usually the largest refractor at an observatory with an equatorial mount. The preeminence and success of this style in observational astronomy was an era in telescope use in the 19th and early 20th century. Great refractors were large...
). At the time this was the largest instrument in the German Empire. In 1881, the ninth General Assembly of the Astronomische Gesellschaft
Astronomische Gesellschaft
The Astronomische Gesellschaft is an astronomical society established in 1863 in Heidelberg, the second oldest astronomical society after the Royal Astronomical Society....
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
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The main observations were of comet
Comet
A comet is an icy small Solar System body that, when close enough to the Sun, displays a visible coma and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena are both due to the effects of solar radiation and the solar wind upon the nucleus of the comet...
s and variable star
Variable star
A star is classified as variable if its apparent magnitude as seen from Earth changes over time, whether the changes are due to variations in the star's actual luminosity, or to variations in the amount of the star's light that is blocked from reaching Earth...
s. After 1909, the instruments were also used to observe binary star
Binary star
A binary star is a star system consisting of two stars orbiting around their common center of mass. The brighter star is called the primary and the other is its companion star, comes, or secondary...
s and perform photometry of nebula
Nebula
A nebula is an interstellar cloud of dust, hydrogen gas, helium gas and other ionized gases...
e.
The observatory is currently the home for the Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg
Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg
The Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg is a data hub which collects and distributes astronomical information. It was established in 1972 under the name Centre de Données Stellaires...
, a database for the collection and distribution of astronomical information. This includes SIMBAD
SIMBAD
SIMBAD is an astronomical database of objects beyond the Solar System...
, a reference database for astronomical objects, VizieR
VizieR
The VizieR Catalogue Service is an astronomical catalog service provided by Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg.The origin of the ViZieR Catalogue Service dates back to 1993 as the ESA European Space Information System Catalogue Browser...
, an astronomical catalogue service and Aladin
Aladin Sky Atlas
Aladin is an interactive software sky atlas allowing the user to visualize digitized astronomical images, superimpose entries from astronomical catalogues or databases, and interactively access related data and information from the SIMBAD database, the VizieR service and other archives for all...
, 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
Jardin botanique de l'Université de Strasbourg
The Jardin Botanique de l'Université de Strasbourg , also known as the Jardin botanique de Strasbourg and the Jardin botanique de l'Université Louis Pasteur, is a botanical garden and arboretum located at 28 rue Goethe, Strasbourg, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France...
.
In the vaulted basement below the observatory, a University-administered museum is located. Called Crypte aux étoiles ("star crypt
Crypt
In architecture, a crypt is a stone chamber or vault beneath the floor of a burial vault possibly containing sarcophagi, coffins or relics....
"), it displays old telescopes and other antique astronomical devices such as clocks and theodolite
Theodolite
A theodolite is a precision instrument for measuring angles in the horizontal and vertical planes. Theodolites are mainly used for surveying applications, and have been adapted for specialized purposes in fields like metrology and rocket launch technology...
s.
Notable astronomers
- Julius BauschingerJulius Bauschinger-Biography:Julius Bauschinger was born in Fürth, the son of the physicist Johann Bauschinger. He studied at the Universities of Munich and Berlin, graduating under the direction of Hugo Hans von Seeliger with a thesis titled "Studies on the motion of the planet Mercury"...
- André Danjon
- William Lewis ElkinWilliam Lewis ElkinWilliam Louis Elkin was an American astronomer.He was born in New Orleans to Jane and Lewis Elkin, one of five children but the only one to survive to adulthood. Following the death of her husband in 1867, Jane travelled abroad for the following seventeen years, taking along William...
- Ernest EsclangonErnest EsclangonErnest Benjamin Esclangon was a French astronomer and mathematician.Born in Mison, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, in 1895 he started to study mathematics at the École Normale Supérieure, graduating in 1898...
- Ernst HartwigErnst HartwigCarl Ernst Albrecht Hartwig was a German astronomer.He discovered a new star in M31 on August 20, 1885. This object was designated as supernova "S Andromedae". During the 1883 observation campaign of comet 6P/d'Arrest he found five NGC objects working at the Strasbourg Observatory...
- Carlos Jaschek
- Pierre Lacroute
- Otto TetensOtto TetensOtto Tetens was a German natural scientist with an astronomer background.- Life :Tetens was the son of a high ranked police officer in Schleswig, Northern Germany...
- Carl Wilhelm WirtzCarl Wilhelm WirtzCarl Wilhelm Wirtz was an astronomer who spent his time between Germany and the Observatory of Strasbourg....
- Walter WislicenusWalter WislicenusWalter Friedrich Wislicenus was a German astronomer. He taught at the University of Strasbourg starting in 1888, and was a professor from 1897 until his death...