Astronomische Vereinigung Kärntens

The Astronomical Association of Carinthia ( AVK ) is measured by the number of members, the second largest astronomical union of Austria. The AVK operates two observatories and a planetarium. An observatory is located at Kreuzbergl in Klagenfurt, the other on the Gerlitze in Villach. The Planetarium is located on the outskirts of Klagenfurt.

Club history

The Klagenfurt mathematics professor Helmut Lenhof organized in 1961 a solar eclipse trip to Italy, which took place on February 15. Prof. Lenhofs call did not go unheard and made ​​themselves known several people who should form the core of the later AVK.

In the same year, on 17 June, the " Association of Friends star " was founded. One of its objectives was the establishment of a public observatory.

At the request of the fledgling union, the city of Klagenfurt to the lookout tower Kreuzbergl for conversion into a public observatory available. It came to light in the result that a group of astronomers at the Real Gymnasium in Klagenfurt, toyed with the idea of building a school observatory. Both groups came together to form a club.

For the construction and procurement of the funds of the "Association for the establishment of a public observatory on Kreuzbergl " was founded on 28 June 1963. After the inauguration of the observatory in September 1965 it to the Association of Friends star was handed over and the establishment club disbanded.

From the University of Graz, the club got a refractor with 134mm aperture and 2000mm focal length on loan. This was in 1974 replaced by a Coude refractor of the company Wachter.

Only eight years after the completion of the observatory Kreuzbergl could also be observed from the Gerlitz. In 1997 there is a 62- inch RC telescope was built with Lomo optics. This is computer controlled and has a GoTo. From the Gerlitze from astrophotography is operated with CCD and video camera.

The Planetarium

After the construction of the observatory at Kreuzbergl the Astronomical Association initially wanted to build directly on Kreuzbergl a planetarium. The city of Klagenfurt, however, presented a private property near the city available, could be built on the additional sponsorship and a planetarium opened under Mayor Leopold Guggenberger 1977. The project cost about 900,000 euros. The Planetarium offers about 2,000 performances per year, including up to 40,000 visitors.

Swell

• Http://www.planetarium-klagenfurt.at
• Http://www.austriaca.at/sternwarten