Sun and stars

Astronomy is one of the oldest sciences. For centuries, celestial bodies have been observed and used to measure space and time.

The invention of the telescope in the 17th century marked a turning point in astronomy. It became one of the central instruments for observing the heavens. Gregory's reflecting telescope (standing) dates from the 18th century. Reflecting telescopes use a concave mirror as an objective.

Since ancient times, time has been measured by the position of the sun. The three horizontal sundials (on the console) are from the 18th century. They show the early morning and late evening hours. In the two ring sundials (possibly from the 17th and 18th centuries, hanging), the latitude is set on the outer ring and the month on the bar in the middle. Sunlight enters through the sun-ear in the middle and shows the time on the inner ring.

The instruments all come from the collection of the former observatory director Prof. Dr Rudolf Wolf.