Berlin Observatory facts for kids

The Berlin Observatory.

The Berlin Observatory (called Berliner Sternwarte in German) is a very old place for studying stars. It started way back in 1700. A famous thinker named Gottfried Leibniz helped create a group called the Brandenburg Science Society. This group later became the Prussian Academy of Sciences.

At first, the Society did not have its own observatory. But they did have an astronomer named Gottfried Kirch. He used a private observatory in Berlin to watch the sky. A small observatory was finally set up in 1711. It earned money by helping to create calendars.

Discovering the Berlin Observatory

The Berlin Observatory is a historic place for astronomy. It began with the idea of a science society in 1700. This society wanted to learn more about the world.

Gottfried Leibniz was a key person in starting this group. He helped create the Brandenburg Science Society. This group later changed its name to the Prussian Academy of Sciences.

Even without a building, the society had an astronomer. His name was Gottfried Kirch. He used his own private observatory in Berlin. He watched the stars and planets from there.

In 1711, a small observatory was finally built. It was a place where astronomers could work. This observatory helped make calendars. This work helped to pay for the observatory.

Images for kids

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  This painting from 1838 shows the New Berlin Observatory. The planet Neptune was discovered here in 1846.

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  This map shows where the New Berlin Observatory was located. It was used from 1835 to 1913.

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  This is a watercolor painting from 1824. It shows the royal stables and the observatory.

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  This picture shows the old Berlin Observatory tower. It was used between 1832 and 1848. It had a signal mast for the optical telegraph.

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  This is a plan of the new Berlin Observatory from 1879.

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  This shows the North Wing of the observatory in 1879.

See also

In Spanish: Observatorio de Berlín para niños