www.baader-observatories.com
The Astronomical Society Orion Bad Homburg e. V. is an association with approximately 70 members. In addition to conducting joint activities across the entire spectrum of amateur astronomy, the society aims to promote astronomical "public education" in the Hochtaunus district, particularly in schools. It had long been a great wish to consolidate these activities at a dedicated observatory and to offer public observations.
After a long period of planning and preparation, our new public observatory in Bad Homburg is now operational. For the Astronomical Society Orion Bad Homburg e. V., this marks a true milestone. Building an observatory is no easy task for a relatively small association and would hardly be achievable without financial support from public funds and generous sponsors.
Despite carefully weighing every investment decision due to financial constraints, there was never any question that we would opt for high-quality standards in one of the essential "core elements" of any observatory – the dome. Comparing the features and inspecting the domes of various manufacturers reinforced our decision to choose a high-quality 4.5 m AllSky Dome from Baader Planetarium. This dome is optimally suited to our needs and will reliably protect our instruments for many years to come. We also want to highlight the excellent consultation, the prompt answers to our questions, and the support during the planning phase provided by Baader.
After completing the solid concrete base for the dome and the preparatory work, the time finally came at the end of October 2021: the dome, along with the heavy steel pier and the 10 Micron GM 3000 mount, was delivered. It was fascinating to observe the professionalism, speed, and precision with which Baader Planetarium's employees assembled the dome and installed the mount, while still taking the time to answer our numerous questions, offer tips, and provide thorough training. It doesn’t get any better than this! The dome has now survived its first winter; we observed neither leaks nor condensation on the interior nor any other issues. The quality of the meticulously thought-out construction is truly impressive.
With the recent delivery of the ordered TEC 160 FL refractor, we were finally able to mount the astronomical observation instruments on the mount, thus creating the prerequisites for soon commencing observation operations. The mounting and balancing of the TEC 160 FL alongside our 45 kg, 200 mm self-built folded refractor with a Zeiss objective were completely seamless, thanks to the excellent mounting system consisting of an 8’’ double mounting plate, a corresponding Planewave clamp, and a 3", 370 mm Pan EQ clamp, combined with the supportive routines of the GM 3000. The additional drill holes and cutouts that we requested in the mounting system fit perfectly.
A heartfelt thank you to Baader Planetarium and their employees for the outstanding work, advice, and support. We look forward to many successful observation nights and to bringing astronomy closer to the people of the Hochtaunus district and spreading astronomical knowledge.
