Open Day at the Dr. Karl Remeis Observatory in Bamberg
To mark its 135th anniversary, the Dr. Karl Remeis Observatory in Bamberg once again hosted an Open Day on 26 October 2024.
From 3 p.m., the scientists working there offered a colourful and varied programme for all ages. There was not only the latest and modern technology to see, but the staff also guided visitors through the observatory’s history – a journey through time from the beginnings of astronomy to the present day.
As part of a children’s programme in the afternoon, the youngest visitors were able to make planets, carry out experiments to illustrate gravity and learn lots of new things about our solar system and the universe. At two stations, guests were also able to explore the sky using VR technology. Either with a flight through space, based on data from the ESA satellite Gaia, or through simulations that showed what it looks like to be in the vicinity of a black hole.
Visitors to the observatory were also able to use a spectrograph to find out how a spectrum of the sun can be recorded and what these measurements can tell us. Thanks to the good weather, observing with the observatory’s modern telescopes was of course an absolute highlight. Those with a little patience were able to observe the night sky with a telescope and catch a glimpse of Saturn, for example. A camera was attached to the second telescope so that darker objects, such as a comet, were also more visible. This also gave visitors an impression of everyday working life in astronomy. Throughout the day, well-attended lectures were offered every hour in the observatory’s library. These dealt with current topics being researched at the observatory, as well as the history of the institute.
The Dr Karl Remeis Observatory would like to thank the almost 900 visitors for a great evening!
