astronomy

Observatory of Strasbourg

Observatory of Strasbourg is a astronomy topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Observatory of Strasbourg rather than just read about it. In short: The Observatory of Strasbourg is an astronomical observatory in Strasbourg, France. History This observatory is actually Strasbourg's third observatory: the first was built in 1673 on one of the city's surrounding towers (the astronomer Julius Reichelt notably played a role in its establishment), and the second in 1828 on the roof of the buildings of the Academy.

Key takeaways

Observatory of Strasbourg belongs to astronomy; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Observatory of Strasbourg to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Observatory of Strasbourg from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The Observatory of Strasbourg is an astronomical observatory in Strasbourg, France.

History This observatory is actually Strasbourg's third observatory: the first was built in 1673 on one of the city's surrounding towers (the astronomer Julius Reichelt notably played a role in its establishment), and the second in 1828 on the roof of the buildings of the Academy.

Following the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–1871, the city of Strasbourg became part of the German Empire. The University of Strasbourg was refounded in 1872, and a new observatory began construction in 1875, in the Neustadt district. The main instrument was a 50 cm Repsold refractor, which saw first light in 1880 (see Great refractor). At the time this was the largest instrument in the German Empire. In 1881, the ninth General Assembly of the Astronomische Gesellschaft met in Strasbourg to mark the official inauguration. The observatory site was selected primarily for instruction purposes and political symbolism, rather than the observational qualities. It was a low-lying site that was prone to mists. During the period up until 1914, the staff was too small to work the instruments and so there was little academic research published prior to World War I. The main observations were of comets and variable stars. After 1909, the instruments were also used to observe binary stars and perform photometry of nebulae. The observatory is currently the home for the Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg, a database for the collection and distribution of astronomical information. This includes SIMBAD, a reference database for astronomical objects, VizieR, an astronomical catalogue service and Aladin, an interactive sky atlas. The modern extension of the building used to house the Planétarium de Strasbourg until 2023, and the opening of a larger and more modern planetarium in the vicinity. The observatory is surrounded by the Jardin botanique de l'Université de Strasbourg. In the vaulted basement below the observatory, a university-administered museum is located. Called Crypte aux étoiles ("star crypt"), it displays old telescopes and other antique astronomical devices such as clocks and theodolites.

Notable astronomers Agnès Acker Julius Bauschinger Adolf Berberich André Danjon William Lewis Elkin Ernest Esclangon Ernst Hartwig Carlos Jaschek Pierre Lacroute Otto Tetens Friedrich Winnecke Carl Wilhelm Wirtz Walter Wislicenus Rodrigo Ibata

See also List of astronomical observatories

References

External links Media related to Strasbourg Observatory at Wikimedia Commons Official website of the Observatory Official website of the Planetarium Archived 2011-11-24 at the Wayback Machine Publications of Strasbourg Observatory digitalized on Paris Observatory digital library

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Observatory of Strasbourg

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Observatory of Strasbourg claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In astronomy, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Observatory of Strasbourg before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Observatory of Strasbourg ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Observatory of Strasbourg

In research: Observatory of Strasbourg appears in astronomy research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Observatory of Strasbourg in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Observatory of Strasbourg is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 1875 establishments in Germany, Astronomical observatories in France, Buildings and structures in Strasbourg, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Observatory of Strasbourg outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Observatory of Strasbourg in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Observatory of Strasbourg means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Observatory of Strasbourg out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Observatory of Strasbourg in simple terms?

The Observatory of Strasbourg is an astronomical observatory in Strasbourg, France. History This observatory is actually Strasbourg's third observatory: the first was built in 1673 on one of the city's surrounding towers (the astronomer Julius Reichelt notably played a role in its establishment), a…

Why does Observatory of Strasbourg matter?

Because it connects several astronomy ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Observatory of Strasbourg?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Observatory of Strasbourg.