Open Day at Effelsberg Radio Observatory
on Saturday, September 09, 2023
The Effelsberg Radio Observatory, home of the giant 100-m Radio Telescope of the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIfR), will celebrate its next Open Day on Saturday, September 09, 2023, between 10 am and 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.
The Effelsberg Radio Telescope is in full operation for more than 50 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.
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.
When accessing the elevation platform at a height of 20 meters, it should be noted that this requires sturdy shoes, as well as a good state of health and no fear of heights. This part of the program is not suitable for small children.
There is no entrance fee and no registration required for the Open Day.
When: Saturday, September 09, 2023, 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: TDOT2023 (PDF file, 0.5 MB, in German)
The site of the radio observatory in the valley of the Effelsberg creek (“Effelsberger Bach”) will be accessible via a footpath from the parking lot. A shuttle bus will be provided for people with physical disabilities.
More detailed information about the program of the event at the Effelsberg radio telescope will be presented on this website at a later date.