Ole Rømer Observatory

Ole Rømer Observatory

Ole Rømer Observatoriet
Organization	Aarhus University
Observatory code	155
Location	Aarhus, Denmark
Coordinates	56°07′41″N 10°11′36″E / 56.128069°N 10.193223°E / 56.128069; 10.193223Coordinates: 56°07′41″N 10°11′36″E / 56.128069°N 10.193223°E / 56.128069; 10.193223
Established	October 15, 1911 (1911-10-15)
Website	Ole Rømer Observatory
Telescopes
Cassegrain 50 cm reflector Schmidt-Cassegrain 28 cm reflector Schmidt-Cassegrain 28 cm reflector Schmidt–Cassegrain 20 cm reflector
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Ole Rømer Observatory (Danish: Ole Rømer Observatoriet) is an astronomical observatory and museum, built in 1911 and located in Aarhus, Denmark. It is operated by Aarhus University and functions both as a research and training laboratory for the university Institute for Physics and Astronomy and a museum offering guided tours and lectures. It is named after astronomer Ole Rømer, and the buildings were listed in 2006 as a fine example of Danish art nouveau architecture (Danish: Skønvirke). The facility also includes a residential house, originally and formerly home to the director of the observatory, today used as a guest house for visiting researchers.

The observatory facilitates education, public outreach and research as part of an original agreement when it was built. The observatory offers presentations and discussions on a broad array of astronomical topics on selected evenings and when the sky is clear the observatory's two 11-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes are employed.

In September 1908 Victor Nielsen, an astronomer at the Uraniborg observatory, contacted the city council of Aarhus and informed them that the German astronomer Friedrich Krüger from Altenburg in Thuringia would move to Aarhus with his instruments in exchange for a parcel of land. Krüger sent an application on 4 December describing his previous work, publications and instruments and a suggestion for a deal contingent on 3 conditions:

The city council discussed the matter on 25 February 1909 with a positive outcome and on 3 June it was decided to build the observatory and accept the 3 conditions.

It took two years from the initial agreement until the buildings stood finished. Designed by architect Anton Rosen, the Ole Rømer Observatory was inaugurated on October 15, 1911. Krüger worked as director until his death on 6 January 1916, followed by Ruben Andersen until he died on April 30, 1955. The observatory was handed over to Aarhus University on 1 September 1956 and on 1 April of the same year, dr. Mogens Rudkjøbing became professor of Astronomy at Aarhus University and new director for the observatory. The current telescopes were installed in the 1950s. In 1974, the Institute for Astronomy moved into the university campus in the same building as the Institute for Physics, and in 1990 the departments merged to form the Institute for Physics and Astronomy. Between 1981 and 1994, Krügers former residence became a museum.