Drebach public observatory
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The Drebach public observatory includes the Zeiss planetarium and the observatory . The facility is a non-profit cultural and educational facility of the Drebach community and is supported in its work by a development association . The public observatory is located in the center of Drebach. The “David Rebentrost” elementary school and the sports field are in the immediate vicinity of the facility.
The observatory is managed by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) under the station code 113.
history
The Drebach public observatory emerged from a school observatory that was opened on July 3, 1969 in the grounds of the Drebach Oberschule. The founder of the observatory, Mr. Karlheinz Müller, ran this facility on a voluntary basis from 1969 to 1984. In 1974 the school observatory was expanded to include a second observation station. In addition to being used as a school observatory, there were regular observation evenings, lectures and astronomical youth camps.
In the years from 1984 to 1986, a new observatory building with a planetarium was built after work. The inauguration of this new facility took place on June 1, 1986. The focus of future work was public relations through weather-independent events in the planetarium. The facility counted 10,000 to 12,000 visitors annually. A Zeiss ZKP-1 planetarium was used in an 8-meter projection dome, which was replaced in 1989 by a ZKP-2 projector. In 1992 a weather satellite reception system went into operation to receive current weather images from space. The observatory was expanded in 1997 by a 50 cm reflector telescope, which is located in a newly built observation dome.
In the period from 2000 to 2001, a larger planetarium with an 11 m projection dome was built, which was officially opened on August 11, 2001. Since then, the number of visitors to the facility has doubled. In December 2003 the Carl Zeiss Jena company awarded the honorary title Zeiss Planetarium, which only a few institutions in the world are allowed to carry.
On November 15, 2014, the planetarium was reopened after a three-week closure with a digital Velvet FullDome projection system from Zeiss. It is the second small planetarium in Germany with VELVET projectors, which are otherwise only used in large planetariums.
Zeiss planetarium
The Zeiss Planetarium Drebach offers different programs for small and large star gazers. Stargazers from the age of four can travel to the moon in the star fairytale Peterchens Mondfahrt . For bigger star gazers, there are family events that are suitable for adults and children from the age of nine.
A Zeiss ZKP-3 Skymaster planetarium is used as a star projector. Various additional projectors provide u. a. for 360 degree panoramas and 190 square meter full dome images.
Observatory
The main instrument is a 50 cm Cassegrain reflecting telescope in a 4 m dome. Additional lens and mirror telescopes are permanently installed in two other observation stations.
Support association
Since 1994 the facility has been supported by the Friends of the Volkssternwarte Drebach eV. The association has 41 members (as of 01/2008) of all age groups. The friends' association organizes the regular public observation evenings and supports special events organized by the institution, such as the annual “observatory festival” in September.
Research work
In addition to the public observation evenings, the telescopes are also used by members of the friends' association. One focus of the observer activity is the observation of minor planets . 133 minor planets (status: 10/2014) were discovered in the observatory. Some of these Drebach minor planets already have official IAU names, such as Stülpner , Fichtelberg, SigmundJähn, AugustHorch or Weissflog.
National and international meeting point
The Volkssternwarte Drebach has already been the meeting place of the specialist group "Minor Planets" of the Vereinigung der Sternfreunde eV several times with participants from various European countries. In 2008 the international symposium ESOP (European Symposium on Occultation Projects) on star occultations was held. In 2011, the “Spectroscopy” specialist group of the Vereinigung der Sternfreunde eV met in the facility's premises. An international conference of the planetarium staff of small planetariums - the Planetaria - took place in September 2014 with more than 50 participants from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
See also
Web links
Coordinates: 50 ° 40 ′ 25.9 ″ N , 13 ° 0 ′ 45.9 ″ E