Eventful field day: radio astronomy and radio in Sonneberg!

Eventful field day: radio astronomy and radio in Sonneberg!

The anticipation for the coming weekend is increasing in Sonneberg, because on Saturday, September 6th, the Astronomy Museum of the Sonneberg Observatory will open its doors from 10 a.m. for the Field Day and Radio Astronomy Day. This exciting event is organized by the X29 Sonneberg branch of the German Amateur Radio Club e.V. in collaboration with the Astronomy Museum. An exciting program is offered that presents both insights into the world of amateur radio and the fascination of radio astronomy.

What can visitors expect? The event starts at 10:00 a.m. with a stand and various demonstrations by the local branch X29. A special attraction of the day is the live demonstration of the 21 cm neutral hydrogen radiation with a radio telescope, which takes place at 11:30 a.m. At 2:00 p.m. there will be a lecture that highlights the basics of amateur radio and amateur radio astronomy. In addition, the live demonstration of the 21 cm radiation will be repeated at 3:00 p.m., before a short lecture on meteor scatter technology and a tour of the corresponding area of ​​the Astronomy Museum at 4:00 p.m. The event ends at 5:00 p.m.

Insights into radio astronomy

What makes radio astronomy so special? It enables observation of celestial events regardless of the weather. On such days, those interested can learn more about how meteors ionize the air as they enter the Earth's atmosphere and form plasma trails that ultimately become visible as shooting stars. These plasma tails reflect electromagnetic waves - a fascinating technology that can also be detected using low-frequency radar. Between 100 and 1000 tons of material fall to Earth in the form of dust from space every day, which makes this research all the more relevant. A lecture on modern radar observation of meteors will also be offered at the event, according to inSuedThüringen.

Those interested can also take part in the remote demonstration of a 3-meter radio telescope, which illustrates the impressive possibilities of radio astronomy. There is no charge for entry to the event, but donations are welcome. The organizers are looking forward to active participation and to welcoming many interested people.

The Astronomy Museum in Sonneberg

The observatory with the Astronomy Museum, built in 1925 by Professor Dr. Cuno Hoffmeister is a real gem for astronomy lovers. It is located in the Neufang district and offers an impressive permanent exhibition that shows objects from outer space: from the solar system to planets and moons to galaxies and meteorites. The exhibition is not only informative, but also offers interactive opportunities. For example, visitors can use a telescope to do research or learn more about the formation of the solar system.

Particularly noteworthy is the collection of around 275,000 photographic plates, which represents the second largest collection of astronomical images in the world. Thanks to the digitization of these records, the archive can now be browsed. Weekly telescope observations are offered for curious visitors, and every first Monday of the month there are popular science lectures on current topics in astronomy and space travel. When special astronomical events such as solar or lunar eclipses take place, the observatory opens its domes for an extensive supporting program.

The admission prices are family-friendly: adults pay 5 euros to enter the museum, schoolchildren and students only pay 3.50 euros. The combined ticket for the museum and tour costs 8 euros for adults and 6 euros for school and college students. At the same time there are group tickets and special prices for birthday parties. So it's worth paying a visit to the observatory, especially during this exciting event.

The organizers and the observatory team are looking forward to numerous visitors and promise a day full of discoveries, fun and knowledge about the fascinating areas of astronomy and radio astronomy. Further information can be found on the museum's website: Thüringen.info.