Regiomontanus observatory

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
View from the West (2004)

The Regiomontanus Observatory Nuremberg is a people's observatory and is primarily used for astronomical education . It is located on the second highest elevation of the Nuremberg urban area, the Rechenberg in the St. Jobst district (approx. 338  m above sea level ).

All events at the observatory are carried out on a voluntary basis by the Nuremberg Astronomical Working Group (NAA) . The year-round range of offers includes lectures, NAA club evenings, guided tours with telescope observation and numerous special events.

history

Already in the 15th century the scholar Johannes Müller, known as Regiomontanus , after the Latin name of his place of origin Königsberg in Bavaria , observed the starry sky from Nuremberg. This can be considered the first Nuremberg observatory. Otherwise, this small private observation station has no connection with today's observatory - except for its name in honor of Regiomontanus.

Between 1678 and 1757, the Eimmart observatory existed in Nuremberg on the Vestnertorbastei of Nuremberg Castle .

Today's observatory has been on the Rechenberg since 1931. It was planned by the architect Paul Seegy and is now a listed building. Badly damaged by the looting population after the Second World War and then repaired, it is one of Nuremberg's permanent cultural institutions.

In 2004 the observatory was completely renovated at the expense of the Nuremberg Rotary Club , whereby a new main telescope with an opening of 60 cm and other new technical equipment could be purchased. The library was also expanded. On this occasion, the minor planet with the IAU number 3825 was given the name Nuremberg .

Today's facility and program

The Nuremberg observatory has various facilities to bring visitors closer to the starry sky . Using models, films and computer simulations , the astronomical and physical processes in the universe are explained. Lectures on astronomical topics are held every month in the lecture hall and slide shows or films are shown during the guided tours. When the weather is clear , a wide variety of celestial objects can be observed through several telescopes on the terrace . A total of 25 telescopes are available. In the dome is the large main telescope of the observatory, which is also used for research purposes. With more than 50 events per year, the NAA offers the public a wide-ranging and attractive program at the Regiomontanus observatory.

On April 26, 2019, the Nürnberger Astronomische Gesellschaft eV (NAG) presented the 3-m radio telescope, which it had built with the support of the Sparkasse Nürnberg's future foundation, to the public. In the presence of the Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder , the telescope was "christened" the Arno Penzias radio telescope. This choice of name is a reminder of the outstanding scientific achievements of Nobel Prize winner Arno Penzias as well as of the personal fate he suffered in childhood . The Arno Penzias radio telescope significantly expands the range of astronomical education at the Regiomontanus observatory.

Other astronomical educational institutions in the region around Nuremberg are:

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Nuremberg is now listening to space: new radio telescope inaugurated . Nuremberg News. May 1, 2019. Retrieved August 18, 2019.

Coordinates: 49 ° 27 ′ 52 ″  N , 11 ° 6 ′ 40 ″  E