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Faculty of Arts and HumanitiesDean's Office, Faculty of Arts and HumanitiesJakobi 2, r 116-121 51005 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Institute of History and ArchaeologyJakobi 2 51005 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Institute of Estonian and General LinguisticsJakobi 2, IV korrus 51005 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Institute of Philosophy and SemioticsJakobi 2, III korrus, ruumid 302-337 51005 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Institute of Cultural ResearchÜlikooli 16 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Institute of Foreign Languages and CulturesLossi 3 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0School of Theology and Religious StudiesÜlikooli 18 50090 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Viljandi Culture AcademyPosti 1 71004 Viljandi linn, Viljandimaa EST0Professors emeriti, Faculty of Arts and Humanities0Associate Professors emeriti, Faculty of Arts and Humanities0Faculty of Social SciencesDean's Office, Faculty of Social SciencesLossi 36 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Institute of EducationJakobi 5 51005 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Johan Skytte Institute of Political StudiesLossi 36, ruum 301 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0School of Economics and Business AdministrationNarva mnt 18 51009 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Institute of PsychologyNäituse 2 50409 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0School of LawNäituse 20 - 324 50409 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Institute of Social StudiesLossi 36 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Narva CollegeRaekoja plats 2 20307 Narva linn, Ida-Virumaa EST0Pärnu CollegeRingi 35 80012 Pärnu linn, Pärnu linn, Pärnumaa EST0Professors emeriti, Faculty of Social Sciences0Associate Professors emeriti, Faculty of Social Sciences0Faculty of MedicineDean's Office, Faculty of MedicineRavila 19 50411 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTInstitute of Biomedicine and Translational MedicineBiomeedikum, Ravila 19 50411 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTInstitute of PharmacyNooruse 1 50411 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTInstitute of DentistryL. Puusepa 1a 50406 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTInstitute of Clinical MedicineL. Puusepa 8 50406 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTInstitute of Family Medicine and Public HealthRavila 19 50411 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTInstitute of Sport Sciences and PhysiotherapyUjula 4 51008 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTProfessors emeriti, Faculty of Medicine0Associate Professors emeriti, Faculty of Medicine0Faculty of Science and TechnologyDean's Office, Faculty of Science and TechnologyVanemuise 46 - 208 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTInstitute of Computer ScienceNarva mnt 18 51009 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTInstitute of GenomicsRiia 23b/2 51010 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTEstonian Marine Institute0Institute of PhysicsInstitute of ChemistryRavila 14a 50411 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Institute of Mathematics and StatisticsNarva mnt 18 51009 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Institute of Molecular and Cell BiologyRiia 23, 23b - 134 51010 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTTartu ObservatoryObservatooriumi 1 61602 Tõravere alevik, Nõo vald, Tartumaa EST0Institute of TechnologyNooruse 1 50411 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTInstitute of Ecology and Earth SciencesJ. Liivi tn 2 50409 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa ESTProfessors emeriti, Faculty of Science and Technology0Associate Professors emeriti, Faculty of Science and Technology0Institute of BioengineeringArea of Academic SecretaryHuman Resources OfficeUppsala 6, Lossi 36 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Area of Head of FinanceFinance Office0Area of Director of AdministrationInformation Technology Office0Administrative OfficeÜlikooli 17 (III korrus) 51005 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Estates Office0Marketing and Communication OfficeÜlikooli 18, ruumid 102, 104, 209, 210 50090 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Area of Vice Rector for ResearchUniversity of Tartu LibraryW. Struve 1 50091 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Grant OfficeArea of Vice Rector for DevelopmentCentre for Entrepreneurship and InnovationNarva mnt 18 51009 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0University of Tartu Natural History Museum and Botanical GardenVanemuise 46 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0International Cooperation and Protocol Office0University of Tartu MuseumLossi 25 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Area of RectorRector's Strategy OfficeInternal Audit OfficeArea of Vice Rector for Academic AffairsOffice of Academic AffairsUniversity of Tartu Youth AcademyUppsala 10 51003 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Student Union OfficeÜlikooli 18b 51005 Tartu linn, Tartu linn, Tartumaa EST0Centre for Learning and Teaching
The exhibition „Two Boys who Dreamed of Stars. Struve, Fraunhofer and the 200-Year-Old Telescope"
The Fraunhofer refractor was the best in the world at the time of its construction and it is the foundation of the greatest scientific achievements of the Tartu Observatory.
In 2024, it will be 200 years since the best telescope in the world at that time arrived in the Tartu Observatory from Munich – it was a large and technically innovative telescope with a lens made by Joseph v. Fraunhofer. As a result, the Tartu Observatory became one of the best in the world for its technical equipment and enabled the astronomer Friedrich Wilhelm Struve to make a series of important scientific discoveries. The tower of the observatory, which has become one of the symbols of Tartu, was rebuilt and acquired the shape as we know it today to accommodate the new telescope.
On its anniversary, the Tartu Observatory reveals the backstory of the telescope, its maker Fraunhofer and its first user Struve, introducing them in a way that anyone without prior knowledge would also understand, especially the younger generation. The exhibition tells the story of two boys' dreams and their arduous journey towards their achievements.
„The Tartu Refractor is a very important instrument in the history of astronomical observation technology, setting standards for the next fifty years. In the 1880s, there were still fewer than 10 telescopes in the world that could be considered better than the one in Tartu. It was also a key undertaking among the works of the famous optician Joseph v. Fraunhofer, since it was the first of its kind and the only one that Fraunhofer managed to build by himself."
Achievements in the scientific world
The most important discovery made with the large telescope in Tartu was arguably the successful measurement of the distance of the star Vega, which, for the first time, gave us a reliable understanding of cosmic distances. Another crucial discovery was the compilation of a new catalogue of binary stars containing more than 3000 of them.
Activities for everyone
The exhibition is displayed both in the courtyard as well as inside the observatory. It offers activities for children and is suitable for families.
Curators: Kaarel Nõmmela, Lea Leppik, Kristiina Ribelus
Designer: Marge Nelk
Builders: Tanel Nõmmik, Lauri Trolla (Wale Vaal OÜ)
Consultants: Jaak Jaaniste, Tõnis Eenmäe
Animation team:
Script: Lea Leppik, Kaarel Nõmmela
Illustrations: Anti Veermaa (Dada)
Animation: Reelika Raudsepp (Dada)
Recordings: Ervin Kont (UTTV)
Montage: Tõnu Rõõmusaare (UTTV)
Consultant: Jaak Jaaniste
Voice: Kaarel Nõmmela
Getting to the museum
- The Old Observatory is located at the eastern end of Toomemägi (Toome Hill), above Pirogov Park.
- The museum has no car park. You can use the public parking areas nearby, for example the car park of the university building at 36 Lossi Street or of the Supreme Court.
- The Old Observatory is located on Toomemägi on a natural elevation. In front of the entrance there is a steep uphill slope (up to 17%).
Getting around
- The three larger exhibition rooms (Eastern Hall, Clock Room and Western Hall) are located on the first floor of the building.
- There is no elevator in the Old Observatory.
- The planetarium, the tower and the balcony can only be accessed via a narrow stone staircase, the ceiling of which is low in some places.
- There are no thresholds on the main door of the observatory and the entrances to the Eastern and Western Halls. The other doors have low thresholds, except for the door between the Clock Room and the Western Hall, which has a high threshold. The Western Hall can also be entered from the lobby, the door of which does not have a threshold.
Cloakroom and toilets
- Outerwear can be left on the rack in the lobby or in the closets located on the basement floor. It is important to note that the Eastern Hall and the tower cannot be heated due to the storage conditions of the historical instruments there.
- You can leave your child’s pram or pushchair in the observatory lobby, or you can take it with you to the exhibition halls.
- Toilets are located on the first floor.
- There is no accessible toilet in the Old Observatory.
More information.