Black Forest Magnetic Observatory

Hidden inside a disused mine near Schiltach in Germany's Black Forest, the Black Forest Observatory, also known as Observatorium Schiltach or BFO, listens to the Earth itself rather than the night sky.

About Black Forest Observatory

Founded in 1971 as a joint geophysical observatory of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and Stuttgart University, BFO occupies the former Anton mine, converted for scientific use in 1972. Up to 170 metres of rock cover and two air locks give it an exceptionally thermally stable environment for sensitive measurements.

Telescopes & research

Rather than telescopes, BFO runs broadband seismometers (STS-1 and STS-2), a superconducting gravimeter, tiltmeters, strainmeters, magnetometers and a permanent GPS station, studying Earth deformations, gravity field changes, seismology and geodesy. Geomagnetic observations were added in December 1982.

Location & getting there

The observatory lies near Schiltach in the Black Forest region of Baden-Württemberg, in southwest Germany, an area of dense forest and low light pollution.

Visiting Black Forest Observatory

BFO is a working scientific research station rather than a public visitor site, so check with the operating institutes before planning any visit.

See your named star from here

Although BFO's instruments are tuned to the Earth's rumbles rather than the stars above it, the Black Forest's dark, rural skies are well suited to finding a star named through Star Register with a telescope of your own, using the coordinates on its certificate. Browse the star catalogue to name one.