Göttingen University Astronomy Collection

Göttingen University Astronomy Collection CoolCrab (Atlas Obscura User)

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Along the corridors of the astrophysics department of Göttingen University is a collection of antique telescopes fit for a museum.

Most notable among them is the Herschel telescope from 1786. The telescope was donated to the university by King George III of England (he was also the university’s founder). It was delivered by the royal princess and Herschel himself, who installed it at the old observatory. Herschel also utilized a similar telescope to discover Uranus. Additionally, the collection houses a telescope by Merz from 1865, and a very old quadrant from 1751 used by Carl Friedrich Gauss to map the stars.

Know Before You Go

The entire collection resides in the foyer of the department around the stairwell of the F wing. You can find it by taking the main entrance at the physics building and going right until you see some showcases and a large Foucault pendulum. Then walk up the stairs and enjoy the collection. The hall is publicly accessible if you tell the guards (who don't usually speak English) why you are there.