Urania Sternwarte, Observatory in Old Town, Switzerland.
Urania Sternwarte is a public observatory in the Old Town of Zurich, set inside a round tower that rises clearly above the surrounding rooftops. Inside, a large Zeiss refracting telescope is used for observations of the night sky.
The building opened in 1907 and was the first reinforced concrete structure in Zurich, a fact that made it stand out among the city's construction projects of that time. It was funded by the city and driven by local civic ambition to bring astronomy to the public.
The name Urania comes from the Greek muse of astronomy, giving the place a connection to learning and curiosity. Looking through the main telescope, visitors can see planets, craters on the moon, and star clusters with their own eyes.
Evening visits are most popular on clear nights, so booking ahead is a good idea. The tower can be visited during the day for a look at the building, but telescope sessions take place after dark.
The Zeiss telescope inside weighs 12 tons, yet it can be moved with a single finger thanks to its precision counterweight system. Its full restoration in 2007 happened exactly 100 years after the building first opened.
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