Zimmerwald Observatory

Zimmerwald Observatory sits above the village of Zimmerwald in the canton of Bern, Switzerland, at an elevation of 950 metres.

About Zimmerwald Observatory

The observatory is owned and operated by the Institute of Astronomy of the University of Bern (AIUB). It houses five telescopes of various sizes, ranging from 20 centimetres to 1 metre in aperture, supporting a mix of teaching and research work.

Telescopes & research

The largest instrument, the ZIMLAT 1-metre telescope, is the site's primary tool for satellite observations, including satellite laser ranging used to precisely measure distances to orbiting satellites. Researchers at Zimmerwald also carry out optical observations of stars and other celestial objects, high-resolution imaging of near-Earth objects, and investigations of stellar flares. The site runs around the clock, with technical staff during the day and student observers taking overnight shifts.

Location & getting there

Zimmerwald sits in the hills south of Bern, Switzerland's capital, at 950 metres above sea level — a setting that offers a clearer, darker sky than the city below. Consult the University of Bern's observatory pages before planning a visit.

Visiting Zimmerwald Observatory

As a working university research facility, Zimmerwald Observatory is not a standard tourist site with fixed public hours. Check the official website for any scheduled open days or visitor arrangements before travelling.

See your named star from here

With five telescopes covering a wide range of apertures, a research site like Zimmerwald illustrates exactly how a named star's coordinates translate into something you can actually point at. Explore the full catalogue of named stars to see how right ascension and declination map onto the night sky.