Telescope

In summer 2009, the Argelander Institute for Astronomy received a new telescope. This is primarily intended as an educational device and is also available to the Astroclub for observations.

The current wiki with relevant information about the telescope and Telescope Driver's License can be found here. Within the AIfA network, the website can be visited without a password. For questions please send a mail to telescope[at]astro.uni-bonn.de.

Technical information

  • Telescope
    • Type: Cassegrain
    • Mount: Equatorial fork mount
    • Primary mirror diameter: 50 cm
    • Focal length ratio Cassegrain focus: f/9
    • Focal length ratio primary focus: f/3
  • CCD camera 
    • Format: 3060 x 2040 Pixel, 9μm x 9μm per pixel
    • Field of view cassegrain focus: 21' x 14' (0,4" per pixel)
    •  Field of view primary focus: 63' x 42' (1,2" pro Pixel)
  • Filter sets
    • Standard LRGBC
    • Johnson/Bessel UBVRI
    • Narrow band filters: Hα (7 nm), Oiii, Sii
  • Spectrograph
    • Grating: 200 l/mm, 900 l/mm
    • Resolution: 540 (200 l/mm), 3800 (900 l/mm)


Virtual Telescope Tour

Have a look and enjoy the virtual tour of the AIfA rooftop telescope

Radio telescope


In May 2023 a small radio telescope became available at the roof top of the Argelander-Institut für Astronomie. Its purpose is the exploration of the HI 21-cm line emission of neutral atomic hydrogen of the Milky Way galaxy. Students of the Bachelor of science in Physik use this telescope during the practical course P465 to deduce the rotation curve of the Milky Way as well as its spiral structure. For questions please send an e-mail to jkerp(at)astro.uni-bonn.de

The 3.2-m radio telescope pointing towards the Sun.

Technical information

  • Telescope
    • Type: parabolic dish with prime focus receiver
    • Mount: altazimuth mount
    • Primary mirror diameter: 320 cm
    • Focal length ratio primary focus: f/0.4
    • spectrometer: ADALM-PLUTO
    • Number of spectral channels: 4096
    • Frequency/velocity resolution: 1465kHz/0.31km/s

Radio telescope pointing towards the Sun