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Strasbourg Astronomical Observatory changed nationality several times since its foundation in the 19 century. This chapter outlines the observatory history over roughly a century and introduces the directors together with a few high-profile scientists having been based there or associated with the institution during that time. The major instruments are presented as well as several big projects born (Hipparcos) or installed (CDS) in the observatory. Pointers are provided towards other chapters of the book.

In 1872, Strasbourg University Observatory was founded by the German government as a model observatory — for its construction, its instrumentation as well as its the staff. Unique working conditions were offered. The 49cm refractor was at that time the largest in the German empire and showed the importance given to Strasbourg Observatory. The director and the staff in Strasbourg in the German time from 1872 to 1918 were first-class astronomers. But already in 1872 and again in 1895, one did not succeed to introduce the new topic of astrophysics. Thus Strasbourg became famous for the field of classical astronomy, compiling catalogues of stars with data like positions, magnitudes, proper motions and so on, as well as calculating orbits of planets and comets according to the formulae of celestial mechanics.

We give an overview of the personnel of Strasbourg Observatory between 1872 and 1919, by making use of official documents, recollections of Wilhelm Foerster and Hermann Kobold, reports and bibliographies. The careers of almost all scientific workers are briefly described, and supplemented by illustrations. In addition, the major projects carried out at the observatory are outlined, including those which were continued after the first world war, and the experiments which led to the development of a seismological station in Strasbourg. An Appendix includes the bibliography of PhD theses and of annual reports.

During World War II, the was installed by the German authorities and Johannes Hellerich (1888–1963) was appointed director of the Observatory. A review of his life and his astronomical career as an assistant and professor in Kiel, Hamburg, Strasbourg, and Muenster is given. His activity in Strasbourg from mid-1941 to mid-1943 was focussed on bringing the Observatory into working operations, and on carrying out the monitoring of solar radiation and atmospheric extinction. After being drafted to the army and spending some time as a prisoner of war, he returned to Hamburg to complete a review on variable-star research in wartime Germany. He was called to Muenster University in 1947 to teach astronomy, and, from 1949 onward, to serve as director of the small Astronomical Institute till his retirement in 1954.

Between the two World Wars, Strasbourg Observatory became an instrumentation breeding place for the equipment of French astronomical observatories. This was certainly due to the presence of specialists in various fields, from applied physics to astronomy. This was probably also linked to the fact that, in a unit of moderate size, the exchanges of views and ideas are not overdiluted.

A short overview of the bibliography of astronomy from the time of Weidler (1755) to the end of the 19 century is given. Walter Wislicenus studied astronomy in Leipzig and Strasbourg, took part in the German Transit of Venus expedition to Bahia Blanca in 1882, finished his PhD, became an assistant at Strasbourg Observatory, and afterwards a private lecturer and professor of astronomy. Because of personal reasons, his connection with the observatory became very loose, and he focussed on writing books on various astronomical topics, from chronology over geodesy to astrophysics. His last and major enterprise, the , whose first six volumes he compiled and edited, survived in different forms for more than 100 years.

We briefly review the nebular research in the 19 and early 20 century, and the rôle played by the newly founded Strasbourg Observatory in this field. The life of Carl Wirtz (1874–1939) is outlined. His studies in Bonn, his work in Vienna and Hamburg, his astronomical activity in Strasbourg from 1903–1916, at the war headquarters in Berlin in the following two years, and from 1919 up to his forced retirement in 1937 at Kiel University are described, both in general terms and specifically in terms of extragalactic research. His achievements were rarely recognized by his contemporaries, both because of his somewhat unusual way of presentation, and because of his “inner emigration” in the last years of his life.

This note is devoted to Paul Muller who started his career at Strasbourg Observatory and became a world-wide specialist on double stars.

This chapter gathers together a few milestones of the pre-CDS years marking the advent of astronomical data centers. Two chronologies are reviewed: one essentially at the level of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), and the other one centered on the preparatory steps to the official creation, in 1972, of the in Strasbourg. Some tentative explanations to CDS’ long-term success are put forward.

In this chapter, the first Director of the Stellar Data Center (CDS) has put together a few recollections.