History of Astronomy

History of Astronomy: Museums, memorials, historical places and exhibits

    Deutsche Fassung

General items

• Find A Grave
  • Scientists and Inventors
    Including astronomers
• The Online Register of Scientific Instruments
  Concept demonstration. Gives also information about the museums holding the instruments (including astronomical instruments.
• World Heritage, by UNESCO
  • Maritime Greenwich
  • Castel del Monte
  • The Lines and Geoglyphs of Nasca and Pampas de Jumana
  • Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites
  • The Prehispanic Town of Uxmal
• Zeugnisse über Mathematiker - Monuments on mathematicians

Individual museums and memorials

• Aarhus (Århus), Denmark
  • The Ole Rømer Observatory
  • Ole Rømer-Observatoriet (in Danish)
  • The Steno Museum
    The Danish Museum for the History of Science and Medicine (including astronomy)
  • The Steno Museum
  • Steno Museet (in Danish)
• Akashi, Japan
  • Akashi City Museum of Astronomical Science (See also here.)
• Altenburg, Germany
  • Lindenau-Museum (in German)
    Founded by Bernhard August von Lindenau. Art museum, only some single pieces relate to the history of astronomy.
  • Lindenau-Museum (in German) (Address see here.)
  • Lindenau-Museum (in German)
• Amesbury, England, UK
  • Stonehenge: Visitors Information
  • Stonehenge
  • Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites
  • Stonehenge in danger
    The Times, July 20, 1996
• Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • Amsterdams Historisch Museum
    According to a guide to collections of geodetic instruments this museum holds some astronomical instruments. (In case of outdated link search for this museum.)
  • Nederlands Scheepvaartmuseum Amsterdam (Home page)
    (Netherlands Maritime Museum). Holds also navigational instruments and sundials.
  • Nederlands Scheepvaartmuseum Amsterdam (Information)
    (In case of outdated link search for this museum.)
• Andria, Italy
  • Castel del Monte
  • Castel del Monte
  • Castel del Monte
  • Altamura and Castel del Monte: the exception and the rule
  • Find more about Castel del Monte with Alta Vista
• Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
  • The University of Michigan Detroit Observatory - Museum
• Annapolis, Maryland, USA
  • Quadrant and Ring (Ptolemy Stone)
    At the campus of St. John`s College.
• Arecibo, Puerto Rico, USA
  • Arecibo Observatory: General Information for Visitors and Tourists
• Arnhem, Gelderland, The Netherlands
  • Het Nederlands Openluchtmuseum
    According to a guide to collections of geodetic instruments this museum holds an octant as well as geodetic instruments. (In case of outdated link search for this museum.)
• Austin, Texas, USA
  • McDonald Observatory: Visitors' Information Center
• Australia
  • Australian University Museums Online
    Search the database, e.g., for "telescope".
• Avebury, England, UK
  • Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites
• Bamberg, Germany
  • Historisches Museum in der Alten Hofhaltung
    Holds also astronomical instruments.
• Banff, Scotland, UK
  • Banff Museum (For more information see here.)
    On display are also relics associated with James Ferguson.
• Basingstoke, UK
  • The Willis Museum
    Large collection of clocks, sundials, globes, and other instruments. Search the collections database for words like "astronomy", "astronomical", "globe", "celestial", etc.
• Bath, UK
  • Herschel Museum (See also here and here.)
  • The Royal Photographic Society
    Exhibition galleries and a display of equipment and prints tracing the development of photography, including the contribution of John Herschel.
• Beijing (Peking), China
  • Beijing Ancient Observatory
  • The Old Beijing Observatory [picture]
• Benediktbeuern, Germany
  • Historische Fraunhofer-Glashütte (in German)
• Berlin, Germany
  • Archenhold-Sternwarte (in German)
    This public observatory includes also a small astronomical museum, which is currently under reconstruction.
  • Archenhold-Sternwarte (in German) (9 May 1997: disappeared)
  • Archenhold-Sternwarte (in German) (20 Oct 1997: disappeared)
  • Archenhold-Sternwarte (map)
  • Helmholtz monument (in German)
  • Sundials in Berlin and around
  • Wilhelm-Foerster-Sternwarte: Der Bamberg-Refraktor wird renoviert (in German)
  • Gedenkstätten für Astronomen in Berlin, Potsdam und Umgebung (in German)
• Bern, Switzerland
  • Einstein-Haus
  • Einstein-Haus (in German, partly in English)
• Bernkastel-Kues, Germany
  • Cusanus-Geburtshaus (in German) (20 Oct 1997: disappeared)
  • Cusanus Hospital (in German) (20 Oct 1997: disappeared)
  • Cusanus-Stift
• Birr, Ireland
  • Birr Castle Demesne (Homepage)
  • Birr Castle Demesne (Information)
  • Historic Telescope & Award Winning Gardens
  • Ireland's Historic Science Centre
  • Harold's Ireland Pics of Birr Castle
• Bologna, Italy
  • Astronomical Museum / Museo della Specola
    • Catalogue
  • The Astronomy Museum at the University of Bologna, by Paolo Brenni
  • Observatory and Museum of Astronomy
  • Museum of Physics
    Holds also astronomical instruments.
• Bratislava, Slovakia
  • Museum of Clocks and Watches
    Including a collection of portable sundials from the 16th-18th century. Information from Bratislava Interactive Information System.
  • Pavilion of Mathematics with the Statue of Copernicus, Comenius University (picture)
• Bremen, Germany
  • Bremer Landesmuseum für Kunst- und Kulturgeschichte (Focke-Museum) (Homepage, in German)
    Holds also portable sundials.
  • Bremer Landesmuseum für Kunst- und Kulturgeschichte (Focke-Museum), (short information, in German)
  • Collection "Kunstsammlungen Böttcherstraße" (in German, English summary)
    Holds also portable sundials.
  • Olbers Monument (in German)
  • Olbers Monument (picture)
  • Sonnenuhren in Bremen und Umgebung (in German)
    Including various historical sundials.
  • Ein touristisch-astronomischer Spaziergang vom Bahnhof zum Planetarium (in German)
  • Kunst und Astronomie in Bremen (in German)
• Bremerhaven, Germany
  • Deutsches Schiffahrtsmuseum Bremerhaven
    German Nautical Museum. Holds also portable sundials.
  • Sonnenuhren in Bremerhaven (in German)
• Bristol Springs, New York, USA
  • C. E. K. Mees Observatory: Tour
    (maintained by University of Rochester, Physics and Astronomy Department)
• British Isles
  • Mathematical Gazetteer of the British Isles
    "information about where mathematicians were born, lived, worked, died, or are buried or commemorated"
• Buffalo, New York, USA
  • Buffalo Museum of Science
    Has on the roof an 8-inch refracting telescope made by C. A. Robert Lundin and Associates, circa 1930.
• Burdett, Kansas, USA
  • Burdett, KS and Dr. Clyde Tombaugh
    With information about a historical marker in honour of Clyde Tombaugh.
  • Discoverer of Pluto (Or see here.)
    On the historical marker at Burdett, with a short biography of Clyde Tombaugh.
• Bury St. Edmunds, UK
  • Manor House Museum (home page)
    Clock collection including portable sundials and some other items of astronomical interest.
  • Manor House Museum (information)
• Cambridge, UK
  • The Whipple Museum of the History of Science
    There are particular strengths in early mathematical instruments, sundials, surveying instruments, astronomy, and optical instruments generally.
  • The Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences
    • Artefacts
  • Trinity College
    Where Newton wrote Principia
• Cape Town, South Africa
  • South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO)
    A small museum displaying historic scientific instruments is mentioned.
• Caputh, Germany
  • Einstein-Haus (in German)
  • Gedenkstätten für Astronomen in Berlin, Potsdam und Umgebung (in German)
• Carillon, Québec, Canada
  • Musée historique d'Argenteuil (in French)
    Information on sundials. (See also here.)
• Carloforte/Cagliari, Italy
  • Museo Virtuale degli antichi strumenti scientifici in dotazione alla Stazione Astronomica di Carloforte (in Italian)
• Champaign, Illinois, USA
  • University of Illinois Observatory
• Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
  • Leander McCormick Observatory: Public Nights
• Chicago, Illinois, USA
  • The Adler Planetarium
    Home to one of the world's leading collections of early scientific instruments and rare books
    • History of Astronomy
      Including pictures from the Antique Instrument Collection.
  • Nicolaus Copernicus Monument
• Columbia, PA, USA
  • NAWCC Watch and Clock Museum
    According to a guide to clock museums, this museum holds some nautical chronometers, precision pendulum clocks, sundials and scientific instruments.
• Copenhagen (København, Kopenhagen), Denmark
  • Rundetaarn (The Round Tower)
  • Astronomical sights in and around Copenhagen
  • Orlogsmuseet (in Danish)
    Royal Danish Naval Museum. The collection includes navigation instruments.
  • The Royal Danish Naval Museum (Orlogsmuseet)
  • Orlogsmuseet (in Danish)
• Cracow (Krakow), Poland
  • Walking Round Old Cracow
    Includes information on the history of astronomy in Cracow, on the monument and a portrait of Nicolaus Copernicus, as well as on the Jagiellonian University Museum holding rare late-fifteenth-century astronomical instruments and an eleventh-century Arab astrolabe.
  • Cracow (5)
    Collegium Maius mentioned, where Copernicus studied from 1491 to 1494.
• Dayton, Ohio, USA
  • United States Air Force Museum
    Including history of space flight.
• Den Haag (The Hague), Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
  • Haags Gemeentemuseum
    According to a guide to collections of geodetic instruments this museum holds some astronomical instruments. (In case of outdated link search for this museum.)
  • Museon (Home page)
  • Museon (Information)
    (In case of outdated link search for this museum.)
• Denekamp, Overijssel, The Netherlands
  • Natura Docet
    (In case of outdated link search for this museum.)
• Des Moines, Iowa, USA
  • Drake Observatory
• Dortmund, Germany
  • Vermessungstechnisches Museum (Museum of Surveying Instruments)
• Dresden, Germany
  • Heimat- und Palitzsch-Museum (in German)
    About the astronomer Johann Georg Palitzsch.
  • Staatlicher Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon (in German)
    One of the most important collection of astronomical instruments in Germany.
• Edinburgh, UK
  • The James Clerk Maxwell's house
  • The Royal Observatory Edinburgh Visitor Centre
• Edmonton, Canada
  • Edmonton Space & Sciences Centre
• Eger, Hungary
  • The Museum of Astronomy (Or see German version.)
• Enschede, Overijsse, The Netherlands
  • Natuurmuseum Enschede
    Including astronomy. (In case of outdated link search for this museum.)
• Erice, Italy
  • Daniel Chalonge Museum
  • Daniel Chalonge Museum (See also here.)
• Feucht, Germany
  • Hermann-Oberth-Raumfahrt-Museum (in German)
• Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
  • Visit Lowell Observatory
  • Percival Lowell's resting place at Lowell Observatory
• Florence [Firenze, Florenz], Italy
  • Museo Storia della Scienza (History of Science Museum) (Homepage)
    • The Medici collection
      Mathematical and astronomical instruments
    • Room IV: Galileo Galilei
    • Clock Collection
      Including astronomical clocks.
  • History of Science Museum (information)
  • Galileo Galilei's Grave in Santa Croce Church
• Fort Davis, Texas, USA
  • McDonald Observatory: Visitors' Information Center
• Franeker, Friesland, The Netherlands
  • Planetarium Eise Eisinga
    (In case of outdated link search for this museum.)
• Geneva (Genève, Genf), Switzerland
  • Musée d'histoire des sciences (in French and English)
  • Musée d'histoire des sciences (in French, partly in English)
    Astronomy: instruments from the observatory founded in 1772, telescopes, spectacles, astrolabes, sundials. Surveying instruments: graphometers, theodolites, alidades. Navigation: sextants, octants, compasses.
  • Visites de l'Observatoire de Genève (in French)
• Glarus, Switzerland
  • Museum Bally-Prior (in German)
    Including astronomy, especially meteorites
• Glashütte, Germany
  • Uhrenmuseum Glashütte
    Holds also marine chronometers nd precision pendulum clocks.
• Gotha, Germany
  • Schlossmuseum
    Collection of clocks, including astronomical.
• Göttingen, Germany
  • Öffentliche Führungen im Hainberg-Observatorium (in German)
• Grafton, MA, USA
  • Willard House and Clock Museum
    According to a guide to clock museums, this museum holds some single nautical chronometers, precision pendulum clocks, sundials and scientific instruments.
• Grantham, Lincolnshire, UK
  • Newtonian places at Grantham
  • Woolsthorpe Manor near Grantham
    where Newton has been born and grown up
  • Woolsthorpe Manor
• Granville, Ohio, USA
  • Swasey Observatory, Denison University
  • Swasey Chapel, Denison University
• Graz, Austria
  • Auf den Spuren J. Keplers in Graz (in German)
  • 400 Jahre Johannes Kepler in Graz: Eine Ausstellung am Bundesrealgymnasium Kepler (in German)
• Greenbelt, Maryland, USA (Northeast of Washington, DC)
  • Goddard Space Flight Center: Visitor Center and Museum
• Groningen, The Netherlands
  • Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum (in Dutch, some information in English and German)
    According to a guide to collections of geodetic instruments, this museum holds some astronomical and navigational instruments.
  • Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum
    (In case of outdated link search for this museum.)
  • Universiteitsmuseum
    According to a guide to collections of geodetic instruments this museum holds several astronomical instruments. (In case of outdated link search for this museum.)
• Haarlem, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands
  • Teylers Museum (Home page)
  • Teylers Museum (Information)
    Including astronomy. (In case of outdated link search for this museum.)
• Hamburg, Germany
  • The Aby Warburg Collection at Hamburg Planetarium
  • Hamburger Sternwarte - Veranstaltungen & Führungen
  • Schmidt Museum (at the Hamburg Observatory) (in German)
• Hamilton, Canada
  • Bruce Park
    Named after William Bruce (1833-1927).
• Hardheim, Germany
  • Erfatal-Museum Hardheim (in German)
    • Walter Hohmann und die Raumfahrt
• Heidelberg, Germany
  • Landessternwarte: Tours (in German)
  • Landessternwarte: Tours (in German)
• Heilbronn, Germany
  • Robert-Mayer-Volks- und Schulsternwarte (in German)
• Hengelo, Overijssel, The Netherlands
  • Techniekmuseum Heim
    Including space travel. (In case of outdated link search for this museum.)
• Hven (Ven), Sweden
  • Tycho Brahe relics on the island of Ven
    Uraniborg Renaissance Garden, Stjerneborg, Tycho Brahe Museum
  • Island of Hven
    Including information about the Tycho Brahe Museum and the restored Stjärneborg observatory
• Izhevskoe, Ryazan region, Russia
  • K. E. Tsiolkovsky Museum
• Jaipur, India
  • Jantar Mantar, by Nikolaus von Bomhard
  • Jantar Mantar, von Nikolaus von Bomhard (in German)
  • 18th Century Observatories of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II
  • Jantar Mantar (in German)
  • Jaipur
    Including information on Jantar Mantar
  • Jantar Mantar (in German)
  • Jantar Mantar (13 May 1996: disappeared)
    Written for astrologers (!), but of interest. To be used with caution.
  • Find documents about Jantar Mantar with Alta Vista
• Japan
  • Map of Recommendable Planetarium in Japan
    Including some information about the science museums and other institutions where the planetariums are located.
• Jena, Germany
  • Ernst-Abbe-Denkmal (in German) (English version see here.)
    Ernst Abbe monument
  • Optical Museum
• Kaluga, Russia
  • Konstantin E. Tsiolkovsky State Museum of the History of Cosmonautics (See also here.)
• Kassel, Germany
  • Museum für Astronomie und Technikgeschichte (in German)
• Kleinmachnow, Germany
  • Gedenkstätten für Astronomen in Berlin, Potsdam und Umgebung (in German)
• Kremsmünster, Austria
  • Sternwarte Kremsmünster (in German)
  • Stift Kremsmünster - Sternwarte (Mathematischer Turm) (in German)
  • Mathematischer Turm (in German)
• Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Malaysia, by Gregory H. Feldberg
    Also about Lake Gardens park, with models of Stonehenge, Guo Shou Jing observatory, and Jantar Mantar. From Mercury, Vol. 23 No. 2, 1994.
• Kues, Germany: see Bernkastel-Kues
• Le Locle, Switzerland
  • Musée d'horlogerie (in French, partly in German)
• Leeds, Great Britain
  • Sundials in and around Leeds
• Leeuwarden, Friesland, The Netherlands
  • Fries Museum
    According to a clock museums guide this museum holds some sundials. (In case of outdated link search for this museum.)
• Leiden, The Netherlands
  • Museum Boerhaave (Home page)
  • Museum Boerhaave (Information)
    Including astronomy. (In case of outdated link search for this museum.)
  • Naturalis Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum
    (In case of outdated link search for this museum.)
  • Huygens Laboratory
    Office building named after Christiaan Huygens.
  • J.H. Oort Building
    Office building named after Jan Hendrik Oort.
  • Instituut-Lorentz for theoretical physics, Leiden University
    On the wall of the colloquium room, signatures of great physicists, such as A. Einstein, were inscribed. (See A Japanese physicist's view of Leiden)
• Leipzig, Germany
  • Alte Waage (Old Weighing House)
    Renaissance building with historical sundial.
• Leonberg, Germany
  • Kepler places (in German)
• Linz, Austria
  • Keplerhaus and other Kepler places (in German)
  • Kepler und Linz (in German)
    Indicates also memorial sites.
• Lisbon (Lisboa, Lissabon), Portugal
  • The Naval Museum
    Holds the largest collection of astrolabes in the world.
• London, UK
  • National Maritime Museum
    • Royal Observatory Greenwich (See also here.)
    • Picture Library
  • Maritime Greenwich
  • National Maritime Museum with Old Royal Observatory (short information)
  • Royal Greenwich Observatory
  • Newtonian Places in London
  • Science Museum
    Unfortunately, the astronomy gallery has been closed some years ago. However, there is something of interest for historians of astronomy in the following galleries:
    • Computing Then and Now
    • Exploration of Space
    • Foucault pendulum
    • Meteorology
    • Optics
    • Surveying
    • Time Measurement
    • Weighing and Measuring
• Los Angeles, California, USA
  • Griffith Observatory
  • Astronomers Monument
• Luzern, Switzerland
  • Verkehrshaus der Schweiz (in German)
    Including space travel
• Lymington, UK
  • St Barbe Museum (See also here.)
    See, e.g., this sextant, or this celestial globe.
• Madrid, Spain
  • Real Observatorio de Madrid (in Spanish)
    Includes a museum of historical instruments.
• Malmö, Sweden
  • Malm&oouml; Museer
    • Science & Technology/Maritime Museum
      The Triewalds collection contains at least one telescope.
• Mannheim, Germany
  • Landesmuseum für Technik und Arbeit
    The museum displays the instruments of the Mannheim Observatory.
• Mariehamn, Finland
  • Aland Maritime Museum
    • Instrument Room
• Mattsee, Austria
  • Abbey Museum (20 Oct 1997: disappeared)
    Includes an astronomical clock (1704)
• Melbourne, Australia
  • Museum of Victoria
    • National Air and Space Museum of Australia
    • Scienceworks
      • Science and Technology Collections
        • Aerospace
        • Astronomy
        • Horology
        • Measurement
        • Surveying and navigation
• Middelburg, Zeeland, The Netherlands
  • Zeeuws Museum (17 Nov 1998: disappeared)
    According to a guide to collections of geodetic instruments this museum holds some sundials and a planetarium of 1786. (In case of outdated link search for this museum.)
• Milan (Milano, Mailand), Italy
  • Instruments in the history of the Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera (Or see this no-frames version.)
• Mittweida, Germany
  • Raumfahrt-Museum Mittweida (Space Travel Museum)
• Modena, Italy
  • The Astronomy and Geophysics Museum
• Monteporzio, Italy
  • Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma (OAR), Monteporzio Catone (in Italian)
  • Museo Astronomico (in Italian)
• Montevideo, Uruguay
  • Albert Einstein Monument
• Montréal, Québec, Canada
  • Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal (in French)
    Information about sundials. See also the museums's homepage (French and English).
• Morgenröthe-Rautenkranz, Germany
  • Deutsche Raumfahrtausstellung Morgenröthe-Rautenkranz (in German)
    Space museum.
• Moscow [Moskva, Moskau], Russia
  • Central House of Aviation and Cosmonautics (Space Exploration) (See also here.)
  • Memorial house of S. P. Korolev
  • Memorial house of S. P. Korolev (See also here.)
  • Memorial house of S. P. Korolev (in Russian)
  • Memorial house of S. P. Korolev (in Russian)
  • Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics (Space Exploration)
  • Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics (Space Exploration) (See also here and here and here.)
  • Memorial Museum of Space Exploration
• Mount Hamilton, California, USA
  • Lick Observatory: Visitor Information
  • Visiting Lick Observatory
  • Virtual Tour of Mt. Hamilton and Lick Observatory
  • Photographs: Views and Instruments (22 July 2003: disappeared)
  • The James Lick Tomb at Lick Observatory
  • Monument to the Reverend Laurentine Hamilton at Lick Observatory (See also here.)
• Mount Stromlo, Australia
  • Stromlo Exploratory
    (Are there any history of astronomy items on display?)
• Mount Wilson, USA
  • Mount Wilson Observatory: Information for Tourists
  • The Mount Wilson Observatory Virtual Tour
  • The Mount Wilson Observatory Astronomical Museum
• Munich (München), Germany
  • Deutsches Museum
    • Astronautics
    • Astronomy
    • Geodesy - Surveying and Mapping
    • Timekeeping
• Nagoya, Japan
  • Nagoya City Science Museum (English version under construction)
    Including an Astronomy section
  • Nagoya City Science Museum
    The data refers to the planetarium.
• Nantucket, MA, USA
  • Maria Mitchell Birthplace House
    See also The Observatory and The Library.
• Naples (Napoli, Neapel), Italy
  • Historical museum of Capodimonte Astronomical Observatory
  • Historical museum of Capodimonte Astronomical Observatory (in Italian)
  • Museum of the Institute of Physics, Naples (Homepage)
    Collection of early instruments from 1645 to 1900, including astronomical instruments
  • Museum of Physics - Physics Department (information)
• Nasca, Peru
  • The Lines and Geoglyphs of Nasca and Pampas de Jumana
• Neeltje Jans, Zeeland, The Netherlands
  • Delta Expo
    According to a guide to collections of geodetic instruments this museum holds some geodetic instruments, among them theodolits and sextants.
  • Delta Expo (in German)
  • Delta Expo (in German)
• The Netherlands
  • Pictures of Sundials in The Netherlands
    Including historical sundials.
  • Holland [The Netherlands]: Museums
    • Museums with an Astronomy/meteorology collection
    • Museums with an astronautics collection
• New Haven, CT, USA
  • Peabody Museum of Natural History, Historical Scientific Instruments Collection
    including astronomical instruments
• Newport News, Virginia, USA
  • The Mariners' Museum
    Holds a large collection of navigational equipment (timepieces, chronometers, quadrants, sextants, etc.)
• Noordwijk, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
  • Noordwijk Space Expo (Home page)
    Including astronomy.
  • Noordwijk Space Expo (Information)
    (In case of outdated link search for this museum.)
• North Salem, New Hampshire, USA
  • America's Stonehenge
• Northfield, Minnesota, USA
  • Goodsell Observatory
    There are John Brashear and Alvan Clark and Sons refractors.
• Oakland, California, USA
  • Chabot Space & Science Center
• Oella, Maryland, USA
  • Benjamin Banneker's Grave
• Ottawa, Canada
  • National Museum of Science and Technology
    • Physical Sciences and Space
• Oxford, UK
  • Memorial plaque for Robert Boyle and Robert Hooke
  • Museum of the History of Science (WWW server)
    Holds a comprehensive collection of astronomical instruments.
  • Museum of the History of Science (short information)
  • Museum of the History of Science (short information)
  • The Virtual Oxford Science Walk
    Including places related to the history of astronomy.
• Padova, Italy
  • The Air and Space Museum
  • Galileo's Mementoes in Padova
  • Museum of the History of Physics
    Among the exhibits is a 16th-century armillary sphere.
• Palermo, Italy
  • Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo: Museum and Historical Archive
• Palomar Mountain (near San Diego), CA, USA
  • Palomar Observatory: Visitor Information
  • Palomar Brochure
• Paris, France
  • Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie (Home page)
    • Stars and Galaxies
  • Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie (short information)
  • Eiffel Tower
    Mathematicians commemorated, including astronomers.
  • Tour Eiffel (in French)
    Noms des 72 savants disposés sur la frise des quatre façades
  • Musée des arts et métiers (Home page; most in French)
    • Album: L'instrument scientifique
      Including astronomical instruments.
    • Catalogue des collections
      • Astronomie
      • Géodésie et topographie
      • Mesure du temps
      • Mesure et contrôle
      • Poids et mesure
    • Le Pendule de Foucault
  • Musée des arts et métiers (short information)
  • Paris Observatory: visitors' information
  • Observatoire de Paris: accueil du public (in French)
• Parkes, Australia
  • Visitors Discovery Centre of Parkes Observatory
• Peking: see Beijing
• Perinaldo, Italy
  • Santuario Madonna Poggio del Rey (in Italian) (1 Sep 1999: disappeared)
    Fu retta su indicazione del Cassini sul meridiano ligure.
  • Museo Cassiniano / Osservatorio Astronomico Comunale "G. D. Cassini" (in Italian) (1 Sep 1999: disappeared)
• Perth, Australia
  • Perth Observatory Tours
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
  • The Flower and Cook Observatory
    Houses also an Alvan Clark & Sons refractor.
  • David Rittenhouse Laboratory
  • Rittenhouse Square
• Pisa, Italy
  • Domus Galilaeana
• Potsdam, Germany
  • Sundials in Berlin and around
  • Förderverein Großer Refraktor Potsdam (in German)
    Including information on the exhibition about the Great Refractor and the Einstein Tower
  • Sonnenobservatorium Einsteinturm: Besuchsmöglichkeiten (in German)
  • Gedenkstätten für Astronomen in Berlin, Potsdam und Umgebung (in German)
• Prague, Czech Republic
  • The astronomical clock Orloj
  • The Grave of Tycho Brahe
• Québec, Québec, Canada
  • Musée de l'Amérique française, du Musée de la civilisation (in French)
    Information about sundials. (See also here. See also the homepage of the Musée de la civilisation (French and English).
  • Le Répertoire des cadrans solaires du Québec (in French)
• Queensland, Australia
  • Physics Museum, University of Queensland
    • Geophysics
      Including a celestial globe and a theodolite.
    • Metrology
      Including sextants and a precision pendulum clock.
• Regensburg, Germany
  • Kepler-Gedächtnishaus (in German)
  • Kepler-Gedächtnishaus (in German)
  • Kepler-Gedächtnishaus (in German)
    (Or see this shorter version in English)
  • Keplerwohnhaus (in German)
  • Keplerdenkmal (in German)
• Riga, Latvia
  • Museum of the University of Latvia
    Including Memorial Museum of Fridrich Cander, and a tour to the tower of the Astronomical observatory
  • Museum of Space exploration (Memorial Museum of Fridrich Cander)
• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Museu de Astronomia e Ciências Afins (in Portuguese, English in preparation)
    Museum of Astronomy and Related Sciences
• Rome (Roma, Rom), Italy
  • Astronomical Museum of the Observatory of Rome
  • Copernican Astronomy Museum
  • Museo Astronomico e Copernicano (in Italian)
  • Museo Astronomico e Copernicano (in Italian)
  • Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma (in Italian)
  • La meridiana di Santa Maria degli Angeli (in Italian)
  • Gli orologi solari (in Italian)
  • Le meridiane orizzontali
• Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
  • Belasting & Douane Museum
    According to a guide to collections of geodetic instruments this museum holds some geodetic instruments, among them theodolits and sextants. (In case of outdated link search for this museum.)
  • Maritiem Museum Prins Hendrik
    According to a guide to collections of geodetic instruments this museum holds some astronomical and navigational instruments. (In case of outdated link search for this museum.)
• San Diego, CA, USA
  • San Diego Aerospace Museum
    Including Mercury, Gemini and Apollo Spacecrafts
• San Francisco, CA, USA
  • San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
    On display are also navigational instrument, such as sextants and chronometers.
  • San Francisco's Pioneer Monument
    Dedicated to San Francisco by James Lick in 1894. His name is inscribed at the pedestal's circumference.
• Santa Cruz: see Mount Hamilton
• Schoonhoven, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
  • Nederlands Goud Zilver en Klokkenmuseum
    According to a clock museums guide this museum holds some sundials and scientific instruments. (In case of outdated link search for this museum.)
• Sekizaki (?), Japan
  • Sekizaki Marine/Astronomical Museum (in Japanese)
• Siding Spring, Australia
  • Siding Spring Exploratory
    (Are there any history of astronomy items on display?)
• Sidmouth, Devon, United Kingdom
  • Norman Lockyer Observatory (home page)
  • Norman Lockyer Observatory (information)
• Stockholm, Sweden
  • Observatory Museum
    Holds astronomical instruments made by John Dollond and John Bird, as well as by Swedens most prominent instrument maker of the 18th century, Daniel Ekström.
  • Swedish Museum of Natural History
    The WWW server contains some history of astronomy material. But does the museum?
• Stuttgart, Germany
  • Württemberg State Museum
    On display is a collection of sundials, astronomical clocks and scientific instruments.
• Suhl, Germany
  • Schul- und Volkssternwarte "Konstantin Eduardowitsch Ziolkowski" (in German)
    Including a small museum
• Sunspot, New Mexico, USA
  • National Solar Observatory/Sacramento Peak - Tours
• Sydney, Australia
  • Sydney Observatory
• Szombathely, Hungary
  • Gothard Memorial Exhibition
• Tartu, Estonia
  • Commemorative plaque for Johann Heinrich Mädler (in Estonian)
  • Tähetorni muuseum (Museum of Tartu Observatory) (in Estonian, English in preparation)
• Taastrup (Tåstrup), Denmark
  • Ole Rømer Museet (in Danish)
  • Ole Rømer Museet
    Short information in English.
• Taipei, Taiwan
  • Taipei Astronomical Museum (See also here and here.)
• Tel-Aviv, Israel
  • Solar Stairs: Homage to Kepler
    The Levi and Fortuna Eskenazi Sculpture Garden, Genia Schreiber University Art Gallery, Tel-Aviv University
• Teramo, Italy
  • Museo di Cellurania (in Italian)
• Tokyo, Japan
  • Gotoh and Astronomical Museum
    The data is given for the planetarium.
  • National Science Museum (Home page)
    • Main Building
      Including history of astronomy
  • National Science Museum (short information)
  • National Science Museum (short information)
• Toronto, Canada
  • David Dunlap Observatory: Visitors' Information
  • University of Toronto Museum of Scientific Instruments
    • Astronomy Collection (under construction)
• Torun, Poland
  • Nicolaus Copernicus' birthplace
  • The monument to Nicolaus Copernicus (See also here.)
  • Copernicus' House (See also here.)
• Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
  • Musée Pierre-Boucher (in French)
    Information on sundials. (See also here.)
• Tübingen, Germany
  • Rathaus mit astronomischer Uhr (in German)
  • Evangelisches Stift (in German)
    Where Kepler studied.
  • Stiftskirche (in German)
    With the grave of Philipp Apian.
  • Nordostturm des Schlosses (in German)
    The old observatory
• Tucson, AZ, USA
  • Kitt Peak National Observatory: Visitor Center
• Turku, Finland
  • Maritime Museum (15 May 1996: disappeared)
    Housed in an observatory, the basic exhibition displays the history of astrology in Turku.
• United Kingdom
  • British Horological Collections
    Includes collections of astronomical clocks, sundials etc., but these are not indicated.
• Uppsala, Sweden
  • The Celsius Observatory and Celsius monument
    See "The Celsius Observatory today"
• Utrecht, The Netherlands
  • Sterrenwacht Sonnenborgh (Home page) (in Dutch)
    The oldest dome observatory in the Netherlands, founded in 1853. There are telescopes by Fraunhofer and by Merz.
  • Sterrenwacht Sonnenborgh (Information) (in Dutch)
  • Utrechts Universiteitsmuseum (Home page) (in Dutch)
    Holds a large collection of astronomical instruments.
  • Utrechts Universiteitsmuseum (Information)
    (In case of outdated link search for this museum.)
• Uxmal, Mexico
  • The Prehispanic Town of Uxmal
• Victoria, B.C., Canada
  • Public Programs of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory
• Vienna (Wien), Austria
  • Institute for Astronomy (Universitätssternwarte): Tours (in German)
  • Kuffner-Sternwarte (Kuffner Observatory)
  • Globe Museum of the Austrian National Library
  • Globenmuseum der Österreichischen Nationalbibliothek (in German)
  • Technisches Museum Wien (in German)
    The collection comprises also astronomical instruments.
• Vinci, Italy
  • The Leonardo Museum
• Voorburg, Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
  • Huygensmuseum Hofwijk
    (In case of outdated link search for this museum.)
• Vught, North-Brabant, The Netherlands
  • Vughts Historisch Museum
    Includes something on astronautics. (In case of outdated link search for this museum.)
• Waldenburg, Germany
  • Heimatmuseum und Naturalienkabinett (in German)
    Displays also astronomical instruments.
• Wapakoneta, Ohio, USA
  • Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum (See also here and here.)
• Warsaw, Poland
  • Warsaw (8)
    The monument to Copernicus is mentioned.
• Washington, D.C., USA
  • National Air and Space Museum
    • Stars (Gallery 111)
    • Lunar Exploration Vehicles (Gallery 112)
    • Rocketry and Space Flight (Gallery 113)
    • Space Hall (Gallery 114)
    • Albert Einstein Planetarium, Gallery 201
    • Exploring The Planets (Gallery 207)
    • Apollo To The Moon (Gallery 210)
  • National Museum of American History
    • History of science and technology
      • Timekeeping
        Including astronomical clocks and sundials
  • U.S. Naval Observatory
• Wellesley, Massachusetts, USA
  • Isaac Newton Room at Babson College
• Weil der Stadt, Germany
  • Kepler-Museum (in German)
  • Keplerdenkmal (in German)
• Wellington, New Zealand
  • Carter Observatory
    See the Heritage section
• Williams Bay, WI, USA
  • Yerkes Observatory: Tour
• Zaandam, Noord-Holland, The Netherlands
  • Museum van het Nederlandse Uurwerk
    Clock museum. According to a guide to collections of geodetic instruments this museum holds a copy of an Hellenistic sundial. (In case of outdated link search for this museum.)
• Zagan [Sagan], Poland
  • Memorial plaque for Kepler in Zagan (Sagan), Poland (in Polish)
  • Memorial plaque for Kepler at the Kepler High School (in Polish)
• Zurich (Zürich), Switzerland
  • Uhrenmuseum Beyer (Clock Museum)
    Displays also sundials, astronomical clocks, and navigational instruments.
• Zutphen, Gelderland, The Netherlands
  • Stedelijk Museum Zutphen
    According to a clock museums guide this museum holds some sundials. In June 1997, I found one sundial on display. (In case of outdated link search for this museum.)

Exhibits

Many of the past exhibits may still be visited in virtual form.

• The Face of the Moon: Galileo to Apollo
  An Exhibit of Rare Books and Maps from the Collection of the Linda Hall Library, 1989
• The Earth & the Heavens: The Art of the Mapmaker
  British Library exhibition, 7 July - 22 October 1995
• The Measurers: a Flemish Image of Mathematics in the Sixteenth Century
  Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, UK, till 15 December 1995; shows also some history of astronomy exhibits
• The Artist and the Moon: an exhibition to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of John Russell, R. A.
  Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, UK, 16 October 1995 - 28 January 1996
• Out of This World: The Golden Age of the Celestial Atlas
  Linda Hall Library, Kansas City, Missouri, USA, November 1, 1995, to February 1, 1996
• The Starry Messenger and the Polar Star: Scientific relations between Italy and Sweden from 1500 to 1800
  Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden, 6 December 1995 - 29 February 1996
  • Galileo Galilei, 1635
  • Paolo Frisi & Daniel Melanderhielm, 1769: Moon
  • Anders Åkerman, 1766: Globes
• Tycho Brahe - Lord of the Stars
  Landskrona, Sweden, 12 April - 15 September 1996
• The Mythical, Mystical Sun
  Austin, Texa, USA, until November 1, 1996. About the sun in mythology,folklore, and popular culture.
• The Geometry of War, 1500-1750
  Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, UK, until 30 November 1996. "The astronomical content is not great, but it does offer a different slant on the astrolabe and the beginnings of the telescope." (J. A. Bennett)
• The Current Exhibit: Johannes Hevelius (1611-1687)
  At the University of Oklahoma Libraries
• Voyage in the Cosmos
  Padova, Italy, January 25 to June 15, 1997. Highlights include a replica of Galileo's telescope and a book of Galileo's results, printed in 1630. Additional information in Italian.
• The Noble Dane: Images of Tycho Brahe
  Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, UK, 21 January - 26 March 1997. See also this announcement and the extended description in Sphaera, Issues No. 4 and 5.
• Cook and the Endeavour (See also here.)
  National Maritime Museum, London, 24 March to 21 September 1997
• Guillaume Bigourdan (1851-1932) et l'Astronomie Française (in French)
  Auvillar (Tarn-et-Garonne), France, 14 June to 30 August 1997
• 450 Jahre Giordano Bruno (in German)
  Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek Bremen, 3-28 February 1998
• Naturwissenschaften in der Kurpfalz unter Carl Theodor (1742-1799) (in German
  Mannheim, Landesmuseum für Technik und Arbeit, 28 April 1999 - 9 January 2000

• Wanderausstellung: Von der Antike bis zur Neuzeit - der verleugnete Anteil der Frauen an der Physik (in German)
  • Frauen als Astronominnen

More information about places to visit may be found in the list of observatories and other places.

For general science museums see History of Science: Museums. Please let me know when you are aware that a museum listed there displays also history of astronomy items (astrolabes, astronomical clocks, sextants, sundials, telescopes, etc.). In this case it will be moved here.

For more information on instruments displayed in museums see History of Astronomy: Topics: Instruments.

See also Electronic newsletters for the history of astronomy including sections on museums and exhibits.

Other lists

• General / Science / Museums / Air & Space : Reviews (15 July 1997: disappeared)
• Museum Online Resource Review: Astronomy
• Mostre e Musei Astronomici
  Astronomical museums
• NASA Space Sensors and Instrument Technology Museum Guide
• Astronomy museums: Find more with Alta Vista
  However, most of the pages you will find have just links to museums.

Wolfgang R. Dick. Created: 16 Jan 1995. Latest update: 8 July 2004