Bosscha Observatory

Bosscha Observatory is an astronomical observatory in West Bandung, Indonesia, situated on a mountain slope over a thousand meters above sea level, surrounded by forest and tea plantations. The main building features a white dome housing a Zeiss double refractor, while additional telescope buildings and administrative structures sit on the hillside terrain nearby.

Dutch astronomers and a tea plantation owner founded the site in the early 1920s to advance research on southern hemisphere skies. Karel Bosscha funded the project on his Malabar estate, and the facility began operating shortly afterward.

The facility maintains a crucial role in determining the beginning of Islamic months through new moon observations for Indonesia's Ministry of Religious Affairs.

The site sits outside the city in a mountain area, so bring warm clothing, especially in the evening when tours take place. Visitors can only enter in groups with advance booking, as the grounds remain active for research work.

Researchers use the Schmidt telescope Bima Sakti to study the Milky Way and photograph asteroids and faint celestial bodies. The facility also provides official moon sightings that set the Islamic calendar for the entire country.

Location: West Bandung

Official opening: 1923

Elevation above the sea: 1,310 m

Website: https://bosscha.itb.ac.id

GPS coordinates: -6.82456,107.61590

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:27