observatory
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observatory
A building equipped with large telescopes for observing the sky, stars, and other celestial bodies. It is used for scientific research and often also for public guided tours.
Wir haben letzte Nacht in der Sternwarte den Saturn durch ein Teleskop betrachtet.
Last night, we viewed Saturn through a telescope at the observatory.
The word is composed of 'Stern' (star) and 'Warte' (watchtower/lookout). 'Warte' is an old word for an observation tower or a place from which one keeps watch (related to 'warten' in the sense of 'to watch out'). A 'Sternwarte' (observatory) is therefore literally a place for observing stars.
Von der Bergspitze aus hat man einen klaren Blick auf die Sternwarte.
From the mountaintop, you have a clear view of the observatory.
Pay attention to the difference between dative and accusative. Movement to the place is expressed with 'in die Sternwarte' (to/into the observatory), while staying or doing something there is described with 'in der Sternwarte' (in/at the observatory).
Die Schulklasse fährt morgen in die Sternwarte.
The school class is going to the observatory tomorrow.
Common verbs used with 'Sternwarte' (observatory) are 'eine Sternwarte besuchen' (to visit an observatory), 'in einer Sternwarte arbeiten' (to work in an observatory), and 'Himmelskörper beobachten' (to observe celestial bodies).
An meinem Geburtstag möchte ich gerne die örtliche Sternwarte besuchen.
For my birthday, I would like to visit the local observatory.
observatory
Sternwarte and Observatorium can both refer to a building used to observe stars and other celestial bodies. Sternwarte is the more common term and is often used for facilities open to the public, while Observatorium sounds more technical or institutional. In everyday situations, Sternwarte is usually the better choice; in a scientific context, Observatorium can also be used.
Am Samstag besucht unsere Klasse die Sternwarte und beobachtet den Mond.
On Saturday, our class is visiting the observatory and observing the moon.
Das Observatorium untersucht mit großen Teleskopen entfernte Planeten.
The observatory studies distant planets using large telescopes.
