Alte Sternwarte

Alte Sternwarte is the historic Old Observatory of Bonn, Germany, a 19th-century landmark built for one of the era's most influential astronomers.

About Alte Sternwarte

Formally the Royal Observatory (Königliche Sternwarte), Alte Sternwarte stands at Poppelsdorfer Allee 47 in Bonn. It was founded by Friedrich Wilhelm August Argelander (1799–1875), who used the site to compile the Bonner Durchmusterung, a landmark star catalogue recording roughly 325,000 stars.

History

Construction ran from 1840 to 1844 to a design by Karl Friedrich Schinkel, and the observatory opened in 1845. Its classicistic building is topped by a central dome flanked by six smaller cylindrical domes, alongside a library and lecture room. In 2018, the International Astronomical Union recognised Alte Sternwarte as an Outstanding Astronomical Heritage site.

Telescopes & research

The observatory's defining scientific achievement is Argelander's Bonner Durchmusterung, a systematic survey and catalogue of stars that became a foundational reference for astronomers across Europe.

Location & getting there

Alte Sternwarte sits at Poppelsdorfer Allee 47 in Bonn, within easy reach of the city centre and the university district.

Visiting Alte Sternwarte

The site is associated with Bonn's Volkssternwarte (public observatory) community. Check their official website for current opening hours and public events before visiting.

See your named star from here

After you name a star, its coordinates are yours forever. A telescope set up near a historic site like Alte Sternwarte can be aimed at those coordinates on a clear Bonn night. Browse the star catalogue to see what's already been named.