A German astrophysics research institute in Potsdam-Babelsberg near Berlin, formed in 1992 after German reunification as the successor to the Berlin Observatory, founded in 1700, and the Astrophysical Observatory Potsdam, founded in 1874 as the world's first observatory dedicated explicitly to astrophysics. The Berlin Observatory's astronomer Johann Gottfried Galle discovered the planet Neptune in 1846, and the institute's grounds include the Einstein Tower, a solar observatory built between 1921 and 1924 to test Einstein's general theory of relativity.
Facts
Observatory TypeGerman astrophysics research institute 1 LocationBabelsberg, Brandenburg, just west of Berlin 1 Measurescosmic magnetic fields (magnetohydrodynamics) and extragalactic astrophysics 1 Operating Principleoperates facilities including the STELLA robotic observatory of two 1.2-meter telescopes 1 Classification
Observing Band Observing Band FAQs
Can the public look through the telescopes of the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam?
Yes. Free observation evenings at the Great Refractor need advance booking, and Babelsberg Starry Night events run from October 2026 to March 2027.
Yes, at set times. During the winter months the institute offers observation evenings at the Great Refractor on Telegrafenberg in Potsdam. Because of high demand, advance booking is required, and admission is free. The institute also opens its doors on six evenings between October 2026 and March 2027 for its Babelsberg Starry Night events, which are open to everyone interested in astronomy.
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Sources
1. Wikipedia: Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam
Lead paragraph, sentence 1
Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) is a German research institute.
Lead paragraph, location clause
It is located in Babelsberg in the state of Brandenburg, just west of Berlin
Lead paragraph, founding clause
The AIP was founded in 1992, in a re-structuring following the German reunification.
Research section
The key topics of the AIP are cosmic magnetic fields (magnetohydrodynamics) on various scales and extragalactic astrophysics.
Facilities section, STELLA
STELLA robotic observatory that consists of two 1.2 m telescopes
Article text: band optical
the great refractor telescope on Telegrafenberg in Potsdam
Article text: band radio
Observatory for Solar Radio Astronomy
In Group: Optical Observatories of Europe, Lead sentence
Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam (AIP) is a German research institute.
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