(openPR) The Effelsberg Radio Observatory, home of the giant 100 m Radio Telescope of the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIfR), celebrates its next Open Day on Saturday, September 09, 2017, from 10 am to 5 pm. The Open Day provides an excellent opportunity to see the radio observatory from inside and even access the first platform of the 100 m telescope 20 metres above ground (Address: Max-Planck-Straße, 53902 Bad Münstereifel).
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The Effelsberg Radio Telescope is in full operation for 45 years now and still the largest fully steerable radio telescope in Europe. Protected against radio frequency interference (RFI), it is based in a valley near Bad Münstereifel-Effelsberg, about 40 kilometres southwest of Bonn. The observatory also hosts a station of the International LOFAR Telescope, a European network for radio observations at metre wavelengths. The radio telescope was recently featured in a documentary in WDR TV. Entitled “Als wir nach den Sternen griffen – 1972”, it is the third part of a series on the 1970s (“Die 70er Jahre”).
At the Open Day everyone is welcome to visit the observatory, see the control room where the observations are supervised and also have a close view onto the 100-m Radio Telescope.
There is no entrance fee and no registration required for the Open Day.
When: Saturday, September 09, 2017, 10 am to 5 pm
Where: Effelsberg Radio Observatory, Max-Planck-Straße, 53902 Bad Münstereifel (please follow the guidance in the two small villages Lethert and/or Effelsberg)
What: Open Day at Effelsberg Radio Observatory
Open Day Poster: TDOT2017 (PDF file, 1.2 MB, in German)
Our programme for the Open Day provides an overview about the scientific work of the institute, there will be a number of scientists present to report on their work.
The activities at the observatory include live observations of radio waves with the 100 m radio telescope and a small 4 m dish, the presentation of equipment in the workshop and a number of technical and scientific presentations (programme of scientific talks see below).
A highlight will be the occasion to access the first level (elevation platform) of the 100 m radio telescope at 20 metres above ground (there could be some waiting time because of the demand). There are some preconditions for accessing the elevation platform: good footwear, good health condition and no problems with vertigo. This part of the programme is not suitable for small kids.
Some of the programme items are particularly suitable for school kids:
- Setup (solding) of a small electronic circuit
- Crafting telescope models and sundials
- Movie presentations (2D and 3D) at the visitors’ pavilion
Snacks and drinks will be on sale. A jumping castle for smaller kids will also be on site.
The area of the radio observatory can be reached on foot from the visitor’ parking lot. For handicapped persons we shall also have a shuttle bus service.
We would like to invite you to visit us at Effelsberg Radio Observatory on the Open Day for an impression of the telescope itself (with 100 metres in diameter and a total weight of 3200 tonnes!), but also of the work of the astronomers on site.
Talks in the Lecture Theater (in German, about 25 minutes each):
10:30 am: T. Krichbaum: Millionen-facher Zoom ins Herz unserer Galaxie
11:15 am: N. Wex: 50 Jahre Pulsare, 50 Jahre kosmische Uhren für Einstein
12:00 am: F. Wyrowski: Sternentstehung in der Milchstraße
01:00 pm: A. Horneffer: LOFAR – ein neues, elektronisches Radioteleskop
01:45 pm: S. Britzen: Schwarze Löcher - Beobachtungen eines "unsichtbaren" Phänomens
02:30 pm: M. Stöckler: Philosophische Gedanken über den Anfang der Welt
03:15 pm: L. Spitler: Schnelle Radioausbrüche – ein neues Phänomen
04:00 pm: V. Thiel: Das Interstellare Medium - Was befindet sich zwischen den Sternen?
Contact:
Sylvia Wilfert
Secretary at Effelsberg Radio Observatory
Fon +49 2257 301-101 (Mo-Fr vormittags)
E-Mail:
Dr. Norbert Junkes,
Press and Public Outreach
Max-Planck-Institut für Radioastronomie, Bonn.
Fon: +49 228 525-399
E-mail:
Weitere Informationen:
- http://www.mpifr-bonn.mpg.de/announcements/2017/7
Quelle: idw
