Innsbruck Observatory
The University Observatory Innsbruck is the observatory of the Institute of Astro-and Particle Physics, University of Innsbruck.
Old University Observatory Hoetting
The old University Observatory, also called Oppolzersche Observatory, was founded in 1904 and is located in present-day botanical gardens (47 ° 16 ' 5 " N, 11 ° 22' 51" O47.26816666666711.380833333333 ).
History
Although the University of Innsbruck had a chair of astronomy, but no observatory since 1892. Egon von Oppolzer, who was appointed in 1902 as an associate professor in Innsbruck, so in 1904 began the construction of an observatory own plans near his villa in Hoetting. This he financed out of pocket, especially with the sale of its valuable collection of paintings. Only the 40 - cm reflecting telescope was funded by the Imperial Academy of Sciences. Oppolzer died in 1907 at age 38 before the completion of his work. After his death, the State acquired after lengthy negotiations, the observatory at 50,000 crowns, and incorporated it in 1909 at the University. They formed the basis for the later Institute for Astronomy, now the Institute of Astro-and Particle Physics. On the road with acquired at the Observatory of the new Botanical Garden of the University has been created.
Equipment
The two-story observatory consists of a meridian room and one in the east -grown dome. To enable a rapid temperature equalization, it was built in a light design of reinforced concrete, corrugated iron and glass. Oppolzer workrooms and his extensive private library were in his villa.
The main instrument was a zenith telescope for observing the Polhöhenschwankung, which was built by Gustav Heyde in Dresden by Oppolzer design. In the dome there is a Zeiss reflecting telescope with a 40 cm diameter from 1905, named after the donors also " Academy reflector ", which was originally intended to star spectroscopy. For original equipment includes a meridian circle and a blink comparator of Zeiss. The historic instruments have been preserved for the most part, the observatory is now a protected monument.
North of the historic observatory is a dome that houses a 1972 built by Zeiss Coude refractor with an aperture of 15 cm.
New University Observatory
The new university observatory is located on the roof of Viktor Franz Hess House, which houses the Institute for Astro- and Particle Physics, among other scientific institutes on campus technology in Hoetting -West ( 47 ° 15 ' 51 " N, 11 ° 20 ' 34 " O47.26413888888911.342777777778580 ). Even during the construction of the finished building in 1986 a dome was built on the roof, in 1996, a Ritchey- Chrétien telescope was set up with a diameter of 60 cm. Since 1999, it is in full operation and is used in addition to the education of students and the research, particularly on variable stars. So here is the second outbreak of the mysterious object V838 Mon was discovered in February 2002.