Linz Astronomical Community
The Linz Astronomical Association "Johannes Kepler" (abbreviated LAG ) is a Linz- based association of amateur astronomers , mainly from the area around the capital of Upper Austria . The community was founded in 1947 and has since grown to over 200 members. She organizes u. a. Star tours for the general public, relevant lecture evenings, workshops, etc. and participates every year on Astronomy Day . The LAG is a member of the Upper Austrian Volksbildungswerk , a founding member of the Austrian Society for Astronomy and Astrophysics and a partner of the Astronomers Without Borders .
Observatory
The LAG has operated the Johannes Kepler Observatory Linz since 1983 , named after the important astronomer Johannes Kepler , who worked in Linz from 1612 to 1627. The Linz observatory is located on Freinberg , around 2 km west of the city center of Linz, close to the local radio station and the Linz stadium . It is easily accessible by public transport . The large observatory dome with a diameter of 6 m offers space for around 20 visitors and is equipped with a computer-controlled 50 cm reflector telescope and a smaller lens telescope . The weekly tours usually take place on Fridays ; There are also special tours for special heavenly events.
Observatory
The Linz Astronomical Association has been operating a branch near Gramastetten , around 15 km northwest of Linz, since 1995 . Because of the greater distance from the state capital, astronomical observations are less affected by light pollution . In addition to various mobile instruments, the observation center has a 35 cm Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope for visual and astrophotographic observation of the night sky.
Others
In addition to educational activities, the Linz Astronomical Community is also active in research. Members of the LAG have already discovered around 30 asteroids and over 100 variable stars .
A true-to-scale planetary path laid out in 1990 in the area of the arboretum of the city of Linz, which made it available for the city's 500th anniversary , also commemorates Kepler . In 2015 the boards were revised and renewed.
In 1997 - on the 50th anniversary of the LAG's founding - an asteroid discovered in Italy in 1995 was named (7491) Linzerag in honor of the association, which was quite successful in minor planet research . Astronomers like to joke when naming them: The asteroid number 7491 is the year the LAG was founded, just wrongly written.