The steeple ball (also tower ball from German: Turmkugel) is a closed, typically rounded, capsule on the finial of many buildings in the German-speaking countries. A steeple ball is highly visible and hard to reach for repairs, so attention is paid to the quality of design, construction, and materials. The combination of durability and inaccessibility makes the steeple ball attractive for use as a time capsule. Shiny and visible from many places in the city, capsules are also used as target points during geodetic surveying.
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