Düsseldorf-Bilk Observatory

The Düsseldorf-based observatory (also known as Observatory Bilk or observatory Charlotte rest) was a historical astronomical research facility. It was located near the Old Church of St. Martin in the district of Düsseldorf Bilk and existed from 1843 until 1943.

In 1843, Johann Friedrich Benz built a mountain, a professor of physics and astronomy at Düsseldorf Lyceum, a private observatory, which he called " Charlotte rest." Benzenberg led here itself by celestial observations. Main instrument was a refractor with a focal length of 1.8 m, equipped for the measurement of star positions with a circle micrometers.

After his death in 1846, the observatory was transferred to the possession of the city of Dusseldorf. Director of the observatory was from 1847 Franz Friedrich Ernst Brünnow.

1851 Brünnow went to the Berlin Observatory and Karl Theodor Robert Luther took over the management. Luther led in particular by position provisions of planets and asteroids. The data he presented other observatories for orbit determination of the celestial bodies are available. On April 17, 1852, he discovered the asteroid (17 ) Thetis. In the following three years, Luther discovered the asteroid (26 ) Proserpina, (28 ) and Bellona (35 ) Leukothea. After the fourth discovery he increased the Düsseldorf council his salary, which had until then be 200 dollars a year.

From 1854 to 1857 revised Luther a star catalog for the Berlin Royal Academy of Sciences.

Was discovered from Dusseldorf On February 20, 1890 (288 ) Glauce the last asteroid. In total, there were 24

1892 was Luther's son, William, who worked previously at the Observatories of Bonn and Hamburg, a position as Adjunct in Bilk.

1943, the observatory was destroyed during a bombing raid. The annealed body of the telescope stands today as a reminder from the west tower of Old St. Martin. If you look through the tube, one sees the weathercock on the steeple.

In memory of the former observatory and in honor of there and just recently was astronomers today find themselves near the historic site of the street names Benz mountain road, Robert Luther Street, Mercury Street, Neptune Street, planets road and Sternwartstrasse road.

Also in honor of the observatory was discovered in 1967 an asteroid " ( 4425 ) Bilk " called.

51.20746.7648Koordinaten: 51 ° 12 ' 26.64 "N, 6 ° 45' 53.28 " E

• Historic observatory
• Observatory in Germany
• Research in Dusseldorf
• Building in Bilk
• Built in the 1840s
• Abgegangenes building in Dusseldorf