Wilhelm-Foerster-Sternwarte (Berlin, Germany)
Image: Wikimedia Commons
The Wilhelm Foerster Observatory is a public observatory in Berlin, Germany, built atop the Insulaner hill and named after the German astronomer Wilhelm Foerster. It has welcomed visitors to look through its telescopes since the mid-20th century.
About Wilhelm-Foerster-Sternwarte
Founded in 1947, the observatory sits at 78 metres above sea level on Munsterdamm 90, on a hill formed from wartime rubble that was later landscaped into parkland. It has held protected monument status since 1991 and is run today by the association Wilhelm-Foerster-Sternwarte e.V. Berlin, alongside the neighbouring Zeiss-Grossplanetarium.
Telescopes & research
The observatory's main instrument is the Bamberg Refraktor, a historic refracting telescope capable of magnifying the sky up to 700 times, used for public observing sessions of the Moon, planets, and deep-sky objects.
Location & getting there
The observatory is located in Berlin, Germany, atop the Insulaner, a raised, park-like hill that gives the telescopes a clear view over the surrounding city rooftops.
Visiting Wilhelm-Foerster-Sternwarte
The observatory opens to the public only for scheduled events rather than daily hours, and admission carries a fee. It can be reached on +49 30 79009332, and current event dates are published online before visiting.
See your named star from here
Berlin's Bamberg Refraktor has spent decades showing visitors the night sky, and the same principle applies to any set of coordinates, including those of a Star Register name. Browse the catalogue to see how each star's position is recorded, or name a star of your own.
Source: OpenStreetMap - always confirm on the official website or Google before visiting.
