www.baader-observatories.com
The VEGA Observatory Opens with Two New Domes from Baader Planetarium
We are delighted to have equipped one of Central Europe's largest public observatories with two modern observatory domes. In May 2018, we installed a classic 6.15m dome for the newly opened observatory of the Haus der Natur near Salzburg, Austria. This was followed in July by a 6.5m AllSky dome. The "VEGA Observatory" at the Haus der Natur offers public tours twice a week, weather permitting. In addition, the in-house research group studies minor planets and asteroids and offers programs for schools and young people.
The VEGA Observatory is located a few kilometers outside Salzburg, where the city's lights no longer interfere with stargazing. The 6.5m AllSky Dome houses the larger of the two telescopes: a 1m Ritchey-Chrétien with a 7m focal length. This telescope is designed for deep-sky observation, and the AllSky Dome provides optimal conditions: it can be fully opened, allowing the telescope to be completely exposed to the open sky. This offers a 180° panoramic view and enables the telescope to quickly adapt to the ambient temperature. The AllSky Dome is built to withstand wind speeds of up to 250 km/h and is even designed for autonomous and robotic operation.
Opening of the VEGA Observatory on August 11, 2018. © Alexander Pikhard
In the classic 6.15m slit dome, there is a 40cm reflector telescope designed for observing celestial bodies within the solar system. This dome provides visitors with protection from wind and stray light, and like the AllSky Dome, it can withstand wind speeds of up to 250 km/h and be fully automated for research projects. We documented the construction of the domes through photographs and video, which we are pleased to share with you.
The new observatory on Haunsberg replaces the 30-year-old public observatory at Voggenberg, which could no longer handle the growing number of visitors. This upgrade ensures that the Haus der Natur museum and science center, with a history dating back to 1924, is well-equipped for the future and can bring the wonders of the universe even closer to its visitors.
More images from the observatory's opening can be found here: Bilder Eröffnung VEGA Sternwarte.
A video by RTS (Salzburg Regional Television) can be found here: Eröffnung der VEGA Sternwarte im Haus der Natur.
We wish the observatory many clear nights and countless visitors!
