Astronomisches Rechen-Institut

The Astronomisches Rechen-Institut, or Astronomical Calculation Institute, is a German research institute whose origins trace to 1700, when it was founded in Berlin by Gottfried Kirch before relocating to Heidelberg in 1945. It became known for producing astronomical catalogs and reference data, including the Gliese catalog of nearby stars and the FK5 and FK6 fundamental catalogs of stellar positions. Since 2005 it has operated as part of Heidelberg University's Center for Astronomy, with research that now extends beyond catalog work into gravitational lensing, galaxy evolution, stellar dynamics and cosmology, including participation in the Gaia space mission. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/