Volkssternwarte Urania Jena, Public observatory in Jena, Germany

Volkssternwarte Urania Jena is a public observatory in the Schillergäßchen in central Jena, run by a non-profit association of the same name. Its main instrument is a Zeiss Coudé refractor with a 150 mm objective and 2250 mm focal length, housed under a wooden dome built in 1953 on a masonry base. The association also maintains the Forststernwarte, three kilometres outside the city at 345 m above sea level, whose 6 m dome holds a Cassegrain telescope with a 500 mm mirror and 10,000 mm focal length.

The observatory was founded in 1909 by astronomy enthusiasts, many of whom worked at Zeiss and had access to high-quality optical instruments. This establishment reflected growing interest in astronomical research in the region and created a public space dedicated to stargazing.

The name Urania refers to the Greek muse of astronomy; the association was founded in 1909 as a cooperative of Zeiss employees. Since 1936 the public observatory has occupied a 4.5 m sheet-metal dome in the Schillergäßchen, which originally stood on the grounds of the private astronomer Carl Wilhelm Winkler and was bequeathed by him to the university. Members still run public sky observations and astronomy lectures, and the Forststernwarte can be visited on request.

The observatory sits in the Schillergäßchen in central Jena, reachable on foot from the city centre; the Forststernwarte, 3 km outside town at 345 m above sea level, can be visited on request. Public sky observations and astronomy talks are held regularly, so check the programme before travelling.

The main instrument is a Zeiss Coudé refractor with a 150 mm objective and 2250 mm focal length. The association also runs the Forststernwarte, 3 km outside Jena at 345 m elevation, whose 6 m dome holds a Cassegrain telescope with a 500 mm mirror and 10,000 mm focal length; it can be visited on request.