When I spent few years in Bandung , Bosscha Observatory is one of my favorite place to visit. Its history , its landscape and - of course - the building itself always interested me. Bosscha Observatory is located in Lembang or about 15 kilometres North of Bandung.
Bosscha Sterrewacht - its first name - known as a famous observatory in the Southern Hemisphere. It was built by NISV : Nederlandsch-Indische Sterrenkundige Vereeniging and sponsored by Karel Albert Rudolf Bosscha.
KAR Bosscha ( 1865 - 1928 ) who owned tea plantation in Malabar was born in S'Gravenhage , Netherland and came to Bandung in 1887. Bosscha Observatory is not his only legacy - there are many more - that's why he was admitted as Bandung honorary citizen.
This observatory equipped with 5 telescopes , SCHMIDT BIMA SAKTI , BAMBERG , CASSEGRAIN GOTO , UNITRON and ZEISS as the biggest one.
Officially opened in 1928 , the dome will turn around to 360 degrees while its roof will be opened or closed at the same time due to its purpose.
Last time I went there with my friends Felusia Louhenapessy and Yuslia Agus Quarty. Like me Yuslia - or Lia - has spent few years in Bandung while she studied at the college. We started our trip from Stasiun Hall ( Bandung Railway Station ) on Jalan Pasir Kaliki. Public transportation car with route 'Stasiun Hall - Lembang took us to Lembang. We got off when we heard the driver said : "Bosscha". We had brief visit to Lia's family whose house only about 50 metres from Bosscha gate.
We didn't intend to get into the building , so we just walked around and took some pictures. We agreed... the trip brought our memories back when we went there with our school friends and teachers.
