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BOSSCHA OBSERVATORY

Bandung

From the time it became a Dutch colonial commercial and administrative center, Bandung has felt the presence of foreigners throughout its history. It would be hard to deny that the glory of the Flower City of Bandung, cannot separate itself from the contributions of elite Dutch Planters of a bygone era. The Bosscha family, once the owners of a tea plantation in Pangalengan, South Bandung, was one of the most well known planter families was that contributed greatly to the blooming city of Bandung. As you may know, one of the inheritances from this family has now become one of Bandung's greatest heritages. It is the Bosscha Observatory.

In 1920, the Duteh Indies Astronomy Association (NISV) decided to build an observatory to enhance the development of astronomy in the Dutch East Indies. However, the plan only came to realization when K.A.R Bosscha and his cousin Rudolf Kerkhoven, donated a large amount of money, along with some Zeiss double refractors. And at the same time, in October 1922, the Ursone brothers donated six hectares of land in Lembang for the project. Shortly after that, the observatory complex was built. On the 1 " January 1923, the observatory was dedicated to the public. In gratitude to the Bosscha family for their contributions to the development of the science of astronomy, it was named Bosscha Sterrenwacht.

The Bosscha's contribution enabled the local community to explore the sky for the first time. The observatory played a significant part in Indonesian research in astronomy during the 1920s. As research in astronomy continues, Bosscha Sterrenwacht remains one of the most significant technological facilities in Indonesia. Since 1923, the observatory has been a popular attraction for students and teachers on school outings, the general public and quite a few tourists, who are keen to learn more about the universe. And the Bosscha Observatory has been regarded as one of the best in Southeast Asia for quite a long time, Over the years, the building, and the telescopes have remained in good condition.

As you enter the area, you will notice the big telescope, namely the twin Zeiss Double Refractor. The components of the telescope were transported from the Netherlands. The reflectors were first transported in a ship owned by Rotterdamsche Lloyd, then loaded onto a Government Railway Company Train. Then, a group of soldiers carried them from Bandung to the location. For observation purposes, the floor can be lifted by more than three metres and the telescope can be turned 360 degrees, in order to get an in﷓depth view of the object.

And also housed at the facility is the Schmidt reflector Bima Sakti that is useful in researching the structure of the galaxy, examining nova or supernova, and taking a closer look at comets. There is also a Bamberg Refractor telescope, the smallest telescope at the observatory, which is mostly used to measure the distance between stars and the earth, and a Unitron. The most modern telescope at the observatory is the GOTO, donated by the Japanese Government, which was installed in 1989. It is a high tech computerized telescope that is used mainly to measure stellar brightness.
If you want to actually see your zodiac sign in the sky, and get to know which direction to face, to see which stars form your zodiac sign, you should consider a visit to the Bosscha Observatory. Besides spotting the star signs, Bosscha Observatory is also a great place to view your favourite comets, different galaxies or any other astrological phenomena. However, the best time to observe the stars is when the sky is not too cloudy, so make sure you go on a clear night.
Located at an elevation of 1300 metres above sea level, amid a rolling terrain dotted by ush vegetation, beautiful pine trees, it is also a good place to escape from the hectic city, and enjoy the Bandung countryside.