Astronomy Tower

Astronomy Tower
Location information
Location	Astronomy Wing, Hogwarts Castle, Highlands, Scotland, Great Britain
Owner(s)	Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Affiliation	Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry Astronomy

The Astronomy Tower was the tallest tower at Hogwarts Castle. It was where students studied the stars and planets through their telescopes in Astronomy lessons with Professor Aurora Sinistra. This was usually done at midnight, when the stars were best seen. The tower was generally out-of-bounds except for classes.

Contents

On the ground to third floors, the tower contained various passages to other parts of the castle. On the fourth floor, it accommodated a spacious hallway that connected to the Magical Theory classroom and a bathroom. The classroom was adjacent to the Magical Theory professor's office. The fifth floor contained a corridor and a reading room, as well as the Astronomy professor's living quarters. Further up were the Astronomy Room and the battlements of the tower.

History

19th century

During the 1890-1891 school year, one of the most advanced astronomy telescopes available to wizardkind was placed in this tower for the students and staff to use.

During the same school year, the Bloody Baron would often linger in the tower's staircase, staring wistfully at the stairwell's Enchanted Ceiling which depicted the night sky.

1992

Exterior view of the tower

In Harry Potter's first year, he and Hermione Granger climbed to the top of the Astronomy Tower to send Rubeus Hagrid's pet dragon, Norbert, to Charlie Weasley in Romania. Despite their success in sending Norbert away, they were caught by Argus Filch when they descended the tower, because they had forgotten to bring Harry's Invisibility Cloak back with them. Professor McGonagall also caught Neville Longbottom and took away 150 points from Gryffindor house.

1993

After Sirius Black tried to break in to the Gryffindor Tower on the evening of 31 October, 1993, all the staff was to search the Castle for any signs of Black. Argus Filch searched the Astronomy Tower and found nothing.

1996

The O.W.L. Astronomy exam in 1996

The Astronomy practical exam took place here for the O.W.L.s. Under the supervision of Professor Tofty, students were required to fill out a star chart. However, Dolores Umbridge, John Dawlish and several other Ministry of Magic officials attacked Rubeus Hagrid during this practical, and the resulting skirmish caused several Aurors and Professor Minerva McGonagall to be severely injured, Fang too become incapacitated, and Hagrid was forced to flee the school. All of this was witnessed by the Fifth years taking their Astronomy O.W.L.s.

1997

Harry and Dumbledore at the Astronomy Tower in 1997

When the Death Eaters arrived at Hogwarts, most of the Battle of the Astronomy Tower between the opposing sides took place in this tower, and in the corridor below. Death Eaters set off the Dark Mark above this tower; Albus Dumbledore was blasted from the tower's ramparts by a Killing Curse cast by Severus Snape. This was where Dumbledore met his death, by his own orders.

Structure

The Tower from behind

The tower was the tallest in Hogwarts and was positioned almost directly above the front doors of the castle. The tower was also surrounded by a parapet and was tall enough to have a perfect view of the starry sky.

Behind the scenes

• The exterior of the Astronomy Tower is featured at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
• In the PC video game adaptation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the Hogwarts Library is inside the Tower, on the lower floors.
• The Bloody Baron likes to groan and clank up on the Astronomy Tower according to Nearly Headless Nick.
• In an early draft of the fifth film, Harry sleeps here nightly to avoid Seamus Finnigan, and is consequently late for his first Defence Against the Dark Arts class.
• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the tower is directly over the Transfiguration Courtyard. This is the reason for the courtyard to have changed shape in both the film and the video game. Unlike the book, the tower isn't the tallest tower at Hogwarts and doesn't have a complete view of the night sky. Also, its location makes witnessing Hagrid being attacked by Ministry officials by the Fifth years taking the Astronomy O.W.L.s in Order of the Phoenix impossible, as the Astronomy Tower is located far east of the castle and would not have clear view of Hagrid's Hut (this event was not featured in the films).
• The tower is very similar in design to the Defence Against the Dark Arts Tower, but it faces the opposite direction and has a large tower connected to it.
• The design for the set for the Astronomy Tower interior as seen in the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was influenced by the design of the Headmaster's office set. Both sets consist of overlapping circular spaces.
• In Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, it is stated that students are only allowed to enter the tower during Astronomy lessons. However, in the video game adaptation of Half-Blood Prince, Harry can freely enter it. It is possible that the rule applies to first years but not to sixth years.
• Chapter 27 of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is titled the Lightning-Struck Tower.
• The sixth film Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince features an error with regards to the structure of the tower. In one scene, Ron and Lavender Brown can be seen ascending a staircase in one of the smaller turrets on the side of the Astronomy Tower. In this shot the turret is on the right side of the clock-face, however, on the official model and in the rest of the film the turret is on the left side of the tower.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game) (GBC, GBA and PC versions only)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game) (GBC version only)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (video game)
• Pottermore
• Harry Potter (website)
• Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Book
• LEGO Harry Potter
• The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
• LEGO Harry Potter
• Harry Potter: The Creature Vault (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Hogwarts Legacy