Sternwarte Peterberg
The observatory Petersberg is a club and public observatory near Braunshausen ( Nonnweiler ) in the northern Saarland. It is operated by its owner, the association of amateur astronomers Saarland eV, and its active members. The observatory serves as a meeting place for the club members and technically well-equipped observation far away from disturbing light. In addition, the honorary members offer public lectures, children's lectures, group meetings and other special events for interested laymen.
Construction of the observatory
As early as 1977 establishing the association a very special goal was enshrined in the Statute, the building of an observatory. After many years of Ansparens and the exploration of astronomical suitable building sites, the choice fell on the summit of St. Peter Mountain in northern Saarland, near the communities Braunshausen, Primstal and Eiweiler. Thus, the site is located far from major cities and has to deal with only a small light pollution.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place on 5 May 1993. Four years later, in the summer of 1997, the observatory was ready and was inaugurated on 6 September 1997. For lack of space was already thinking about expanding rapidly. On 29 April 2003, work began at the southeastern extension, which houses a club room and a second dome since its completion in 2005.
Building
The building was constructed in two phases: the initial annular construction and the southeastern cultivation.
The original structure consists of a central two-storey tower attached to it are two circular segment-shaped parts of buildings in the north and south. In the northern segment is a lecture room with modern multimedia technology is set up in the southern an exhibition and cash room. On the central tower with a rotating dome 5.5 meters in diameter is mounted.
The southeastern extension houses a club room with storage facilities and a second dome with 3 meters diameter.
Optical instruments
In the northern dome is since 17 April 2010, the Petersberg half meter telescope (PHT ), a Plane Wave - CDK20 telescope corrected Dall - Kirkham, mounted. With a primary mirror diameter of 508 mm (20 inches) and a focal length of 3454 mm, the aperture ratio f6, 8 A Astrophysics Starfire refractor with 152mm aperture (6 inches) and 1300 mm focal length ( f8, 5) is used, inter alia, as a guide scope for long exposures. A button K100 mount ( weight 250 kg, maximum load 150 kg), in combination with an FS2 control for precise tracking of the instruments.
In the southern dome can - sometimes alternately - are observed with multiple lens telescopes. Main unit is a Lichtenknecker refractor ( 127mm = 5 inches aperture, 900 mm focal length, f7 ). Depending on requirements, a Coronado Solarmax Sonnentelskop be set at 60 mm opening. Mounted these devices are on a Gemini 40
Astronomical projects
The observatory Petersberg and their equipment is available to all members of the VAS eV for astronomical projects. In addition to visual astronomy is the V.A. astrophotography of deep-sky objects and objects of the solar system (Moon, planets, etc ). Individual members operate astrometry and spectroscopy. In this context, two other events in recent years to be mentioned:
- Total solar eclipse on 11 August 1999
- Transit of Venus on 8 June 2004
Public Events
Every first Saturday of the month a public lecture or children lecture will take place. Following a guided tour followed by the observatory and - in the dark and cloudless sky - a common astronomical observation. Groups, the observatory Petersberg visit by special arrangement.
Furthermore, special events (eg Observatories festival or at a special astronomical event) organized. Since 2003, the Observatory Petersberg also participated in the nationwide day of astronomy.