Urania Sternwarte

Rising above the Lindenhof quarter of Zurich, Switzerland, Urania Sternwarte is a public observatory and tower that has offered residents and visitors a view of the stars — and the city — since the early 20th century.

About Urania Sternwarte

Urania Sternwarte was, at the time of its construction, the first building in Zurich made from concrete, and it was considered a technical masterpiece of its era. Its main optical telescope, weighing around 12 tonnes, was designed by Carl Zeiss AG in Jena, Germany. The building today combines the observatory with a restaurant in the main building and a bar with panoramic views in the tower.

History

The idea for the observatory began in 1899 at the initiative of the merchant Abraham Weill Einstein, and Urania Sternwarte opened on 15 June 1907. It followed earlier traditions of astronomical observation in Zurich, including work by the Astronomische Kommission since 1759, observations from the Grossmünster's Karl's tower, and a federal observatory built in 1861–64 by Gottfried Semper for ETH Zurich.

Location & getting there

The observatory stands in the Lindenhof quarter of central Zurich, Switzerland, one of the city's oldest and most historic neighbourhoods.

Visiting Urania Sternwarte

Urania Sternwarte functions as a public educational observatory and museum, with a restaurant and panoramic bar open to visitors; check the official website for current viewing times and tours.

See your named star from here

The Zeiss telescope at Urania Sternwarte, like any properly aimed instrument, can be pointed at the exact coordinates of a named star. Name a star of your own, or explore the catalogue to browse existing dedications.