UNESCO awards World Heritage status to sites judged to have Outstanding Universal Value. Astronomical connections have provided the basis for several such assessments, for instance monuments with alignments to the solstices (e.g., Newgrange, Ireland), observatories with connections to time keeping and navigation (e.g., Greenwich, UK), and mechanical models of the Solar System (e.g., Eise Eisinga Planetarium, Netherlands).

The classical form of the astronomical observatory originated in Europe with many well-preserved examples from the 17th century onwards still extant. In some cases these observatories also remain as active centres of astronomy, where research, education and/or public outreach in the sciences are conducted. These provide prime candidates for possible future nominations for UNESCO World Heritage. In Ireland the historic observatories of Armagh, Birr and Dunsink have come together to pursue such a nomination.

The intent of this session is to highlight the outstanding astronomical heritage represented across many European observatories and ask whether they be suitable for inclusion in the IAU's list of "Outstanding Astronomical Heritage" (OAH). This also may include observatories that no longer exist but made significant scientific contributions (e.g. Gotha in Germany, Uraniborg in Denmark).

Further, we ask whether some might also be considered for future trans-national UNESCO nominations arising from several countries? While the astronomical heritage must be foremost in the applications, an extensive management plan for the site preservation is also a requirement. Within this plan the cultural and educational values of historic observatories will need to prominent. Thus, attaining UNESCO World Heritage status will leverage important societal values such as the public communication of science.

We will also consider the fate of observatories which are no longer in active use. In Potsdam the main dome has been transformed into a library, in contrast to Cambridge and Meudon where they are falling into disrepair.

Questions that might be asked include:

- The requirements for an observatory to be considered as Outstanding Astronomical Heritage?

- The requirements needed to consider an observatory as a monument for accreditation for UNESCO Word Heritage?

- What defines a "Classical Observatory" from a cultural viewpoint?

Challenges that are encountered in running Classical Observatories include:

- How to keep historic telescopes working and relevant to audiences?

- What can we learn from historic observatory libraries and archives?

- How can an observatory on the UNESCO World Heritage list proceed with undertaking modern cutting-edge research?

- How do historic observatories manage the balance between visitors' expectations (black holes - wow!) versus historic reality (transit telescopes and cataloguing - boring!)?

- How might we retain observatory domes once they have stopped being actively used for research?

Programme

• UNESCO World Heritage and Astronomy
• The requirements for an observatory to be considered as Outstanding Astronomical Heritage
• The requirements needed to consider an observatory as a monument for accreditation for UNESCO Word Heritage
• What defines a "Classical Observatory" from a cultural viewpoint?
• European Classical Observatories: protection, preservation and the pursuit of science

Invited speakers

Scientific organisers

Michael Burton, Armagh Observatory & Planetarium

Peter Gallagher, Dunsink Observatory, Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies

Gudrun Wolfschmidt, Hamburg Observatory, University of Hamburg

Giangiacomo Gandolfi, INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Roma

Ileana Chinnici, INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo

David Valls-Gabaud, CNRS, Observatoire de Paris

Rebekah Higgitt, National Museums Scotland

Contact

michael.burton @ armagh.ac.uk