Sonneberg Observatory

Sonneberg Observatory
Sonneberg Observatory in 2012
Observatory code031
LocationSonneberg, Thuringia, Germany
Coordinates50°22′39″N 11°11′24″E / 50.3775°N 11.19°E / 50.3775; 11.19
Altitude638 m (2,093 ft)
Established1925
Websitewww.sternwarte-sonneberg.de
Location of Sonneberg Observatory
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Sonneberg Observatory (German: Sternwarte Sonneberg) is an astronomical observatory located at 638 m altitude on Erbisbühl in the Neufang district of Sonneberg, Germany. The observatory was founded in 1925 on the initiative of Cuno Hoffmeister by the town of Sonneberg with the support of the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung. The observatory carries out long-term studies of variable stars. To this end the sky is monitored continuously through photography, resulting in one of the largest archives of astronomical plates.

The observatory was also always engaged in popularising astronomy, which now continues in the Astronomy Museum on site.