Bülach observatory
Coordinates: 47 ° 31 '10.4 " N , 8 ° 34' 14.3" E ; CH1903: 685261 / 263816 The observatory Bülach in 1983 by amateur astronomers of the Astronomical Group Bulach (now Astronomical Society Zurich Unterland) built. It is not far from the top of the pass on the Dattenberg between Bülach and Embrach at 550 m above sea level. M. ( MPC Observatory code: 167).
background
The main aim of the observatory is to spread astronomical knowledge to the public. In addition, the members also have the opportunity to use the infrastructure for their own observations and work. The Bülach observatory is therefore not fulfilling a research assignment. Public and closed star tours , observation evenings for special astronomical events or courses and workshops are held. As financial sponsorship draws the Foundation School - and Volkssternwarte Bulach (HR No .: CH-020.7.903.560-8), while the Astronomical Society Zurich Unterland is responsible as a club for the operation and Demonstratorenteam.
In the course of the extension and renovation of the Bülach observatory in 2012, the area of the building was almost doubled. New is u. a. a multi-purpose room with a cafeteria. On the observation terrace , the previous Maksutov reflector telescope was replaced by the Ritchey-Chrétien astrograph.
Instruments
The following instruments are on the observation deck:
- The main unit, a Cassegrain reflecting telescope with 85 cm aperture and a focal length of 7800 mm.
- Next to it stands parallel on the same mount: a Newton / Cassegrain reflector telescope with 50 cm opening and three exchangeable secondary mirrors.
- Ritchey-Chrétien-Astrograph Officina Stellare Pro RC 360 with 2880 mm focal length. Two apo refractors piggyback on it : A TEC 140 with 980 mm focal length and a small BORG 77 ED II. A GM4000QCI of 10 micron is used as a mount. All three telescopes are mainly used for astrophotographic purposes.
- Zeiss Coudé - refractor with 15 cm opening and fixed view. Area of application: mainly planetary and solar observation (projection).
- Heliostat for projecting the sun into the lecture room for sun observation in white and H-alpha light.
The observatory has a gable roof on rails that can be retracted. For didactic reasons, this variant was preferred to a conventional dome structure.
Since May 2006 there has been an outdoor observation area on the west side, where two Coronado refractors are used for solar observation.
Events and activities
The observatory offers public and closed presentations. Public observation evenings generally take place every Friday evening from 8 p.m. In the summer months from May to August, if the weather is good, a sun tour is carried out at the beginning of the evening program. An "Open Roof Week" takes place two to three times a year. In addition to the public program, the observatory is also available to association members for their own observations. Areas of work are mainly CCD photography, solar observation, astrometry of small planets and NEOs as well as meteor recordings as station BUE of the specialist group Meteorastronomy.
Planet path in Bülach
The Bülach Planet Trail was built in the same year as the observatory. It is laid out on a scale of 1: 5 billion and leads from the Zurich Unterland canton school eastwards to Eschenmosen, where the dwarf planet Eris is the end point at the Bülach observatory. In 2001 and again in 2016, the models of the learning path were completely renewed.