Michelson-Haus

Michelson-Haus stands in Potsdam as an architectural site with roots in the Royal Observatory for Astrophysics. Architect Paul Emanuel Spieker designed the observatory building. Its north wing follows a meridian, while the south wing contains observation towers for astronomical work. The telescopes supported detailed solar observations there. Albert A. Michelson conducted experiments in the basement, examining Earth’s movement against the hypothetical ether. Those experiments helped shape Einstein’s theory of relativity.

The observatory also made the first remote recording of an earthquake near Japan, advancing seismology. That achievement advanced later geophysical measurement methods. Substantial reconstruction preceded the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research’s arrival at Michelson-Haus. The building forms part of the institute on historic Telegrafenberg. A subsurface annex houses a high-performance computer. The east tower contains a telescope, while the middle cupola serves as a seminar and conference room. Michelson-Haus connects astronomy, seismology, and climate research within one Potsdam building.