Observatories often have an otherworldly feel, not just because of the telescopes housed inside, but due to the sometimes-unusual style in which they are built. Cointe Observatory is no exception, with its iconic red bricks and retractable roof that may have inspired Futurama’s Planet Express building. The observatory consists of a snaking collection of buildings, the oldest of which dates back to 1881, with the newest additions as recent as the 1980s. Most of the structure is built in a medieval revival style, which is characterized by red bricks, wooden…
