Friedrich Simon Archenhold

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Friedrich Simon Archenhold (* 2 October 1861 in Lichtenau in Westphalia; † 14 October 1939 in Berlin) was an astronomer and founder of the Archenhold Sternwarte (Archenhold Observatory) in Berlin-Treptow.

On the basis of Archenhold's plans, what was then the world's longest telescope, with a focal length of 21 meters, was constructed in Treptow, a suburb of Berlin. The telescope was opened to the public on 1 May 1896 and finally completed in September. The Observatory was named after Archenhold in 1946.

Archenhold was able to attract numerous well-known scientists and researchers for guest lectures at the Observatory, including Albert Einstein, who on 2 June 1915 gave his first public lecture on the Theory of Relativity.

When the long summer nights reduced his observation time F. S. Archenhold would take his family to his summer house in Bansin where he worked on the magazines and papers that he published at the observatory. His summer house on Seestrasse, 63 is still standing after 67 years, but it is in very poor condition. This has now been bought by his grand daughter and will be renovated.