South African Astronomical Observatory (DLR)

This dome is the first in a planned global network of SMARTnet™ domes, which the German Aerospace Center (DLR) has commissioned together with the Astronomical Institute of the University of Bern in South Africa.

The task of this 3.5M Baader AllSky dome at the South African Astronomical Observatory is to survey high-altitude objects in the geostationary regime. Through continuous monitoring of the geostationary orbit, the system aims to prevent collisions among the ever-growing number of satellites.

A second 3.5M AllSky dome will be installed in November 2019 in Australia, at Mt. Kent, while a third is planned for 2020/2021 in South America at a location yet to be determined.

For more information about this project and the telescopes in use, please visit the DLR’s news page: Preventing Satellite Collisions with SMARTnet™

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