Bernoulliborg

The Bernoulliborg building on the University of Groningen's Zernike Campus in the Netherlands carries the Blaauw Observatory on its roof, putting a working telescope at the heart of the university's science campus.

About Bernoulliborg

Bernoulliborg is a university building on the Zernike Campus of the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (University of Groningen), completed in 2004 by the architecture firm De Zwarte Hond. Mounted on top of it is the Blaauw Observatory, named after the Dutch astronomer Adriaan Blaauw, which was officially opened on 11 September 2008 by the university's Rector Magnificus, Frans Zwarts.

History

The Bernoulliborg building itself was finished in 2004, with the Blaauw Observatory added and formally inaugurated four years later, in 2008. The naming honours Adriaan Blaauw, a leading figure in 20th-century Dutch astronomy.

Telescopes & research

The observatory is equipped with a 40 cm Ritchey-Chrétien reflecting telescope, one of the largest instruments of its kind in the Netherlands. It is used to give university students hands-on experience with astronomical observation, and also serves public stargazing evenings.

Location & getting there

Bernoulliborg sits on the Zernike Campus in Groningen, in the northern Netherlands, near 53.241°N, 6.536°E, listed under Europe in Star Register's observatories directory. The campus setting places it alongside the university's other science faculties on the northern edge of the city.

Visiting Bernoulliborg

The Blaauw Observatory runs public stargazing evenings between October and March, weather permitting, hosting groups of up to 25 visitors at a time. Check the university's current schedule before planning a visit, since sessions depend on clear skies.

See your named star from here

Because the Blaauw Observatory's 40 cm telescope is used for real observational astronomy, it's a genuine option for locating a star by its coordinates. Name a star through Star Register, or search the catalogue for one already named.