LOFAR

Of all radiation in the Universe, only the visible light and radio frequencies are observable from the Earth’ s surface.

Since 2015, Hamburg Observatory has been part of a Europe-wide network of radio telescopes (Low Frequency Array – LOFAR). The observatory has its own radio telescope station in Norderstedt. The network of the LOFAR stations supply data for the creation of high-resolution radio images at wavelengths of 2 to 3m (VHF/DAB band).

 Fig.: The radio galaxy 3C31. LOFAR radio image (red), overlayed an optical image (SDSS-survey). The central galaxy emits two jets visible in the radio wavelengths. Processes near the black hole in the galaxy’s centre accelerate matter within the jets. The extent of the jet is many times larger than the diameter of the galaxy in visible light.  One edge of the image is one degree long, i.e. the image would cover the Moon four times over.

Small radio telescopes

In cooperation with the Astronomy Workshop, Hamburg Observatory operates two radio telescopes with an antenna diameter of 3m, used for teaching. With these telescopes, students can prove the existence of dark matter in the Milky Way. The radio telescope KRT3 was mounted on the roof of the main building in 2019.

Salvador-Spiegel

The Salvador-Spiegel is a Cassegrain telescope with a 40cm diameter objective and a focal length of 8m. It was installed around 1960. The instrument was used for measuring the brightness of stars. Today, it is used for public observations.