Old Observatory

The Old Observartory was built at the beginning of the 19th century according to design by the university's architect, Johann Wilhelm Krause. The astronomer Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve, who was then head of the observatory, is known for his research on double stars and his pioneering measurements of interstellar distance. He led the surveys for the Struve Geodetic Arc which stretches from North Norway to the coast of the Black Sea and which played a pivotal role in the development of astronomy, geodesy and cartography. At Struve's instigation, the observatory acquired a Fraunhofer refractor, one of the largest telescopes at the time. The structural solution and mechanical systems of the observatory's viewing tower have been preserved as they were 200 years ago and are fully operational, as is the observatory's Zeiss telescope.

Observatory tours and planetarium shows are availableto groupsby appointment.
Telephone: +372 737 6932 (Observatory), +372 737 5677 (University of Tartu History Museum)
E-mail: helle [ät] obs [dot] ee, urmet [dot] paloveer [ät] ut [dot] ee
http://www.obs.ee/
The Old Observatory of the University of Tartu is located on Toome Hill,
at 40 Lossi St., Tartu 51003