Manfred von Ardenne Observatory

Technical specifications

The Zeiss refractor with an objective diameter of 200 mm and a focal length of 3000 mm - built between 1909 and 1911 - is considered a rarity among experts, as only six of these devices existed. During this time, Carl Zeiss Jena developed a wide range of astronomical observation devices.

The main feature of the Ardenne refractor is a so-called E lens with the Fab. 16810. It is a classic achromat according to Josef Fraunhofer for color error correction, focal ratio 1:15. As was customary at that time, the refractor was automatically tracked by a mount with a mechanical hour drive. The accuracy of these works was excellent and, in addition to visual observation, also made it possible to photograph the starry sky. During the restoration in 2007, the mechanical hour drive was replaced by a modern electronic stepper motor control.

Source and further information can be found at:
sternwarte-dresden.de

Two observatories that were assigned to the former Manfred von Ardenne research institute are referred to as observatories of the former Manfred von Ardenne research institute. The older of the two (“Manfred von Ardenne” observatory, built in 1956) is located in the Weißer Hirsch district of Dresden (Plattleite 27) and has been open to the public again since 2007. The younger of the two (private observatory, built in 1969) is located near the private home of the von Ardenne family in the Oberloschwitz district (Zeppelinstraße 7) and is not open to the public.

On November 20, 2007, the "Manfred von Ardenne" observatory at Plattleite 27 at the Weißen Hirsch was inaugurated after a 10-year break and made accessible to the public again. The reason for the renovation was
100th birthday of the company founder Manfred von Ardenne, which VON ARDENNE GmbH celebrated in 2007. Around 100,000 EUR were invested in the repair of the refractor and observatory. In the spirit of the founder of the observatory Manfred von Ardenne, school classes and interested Dresdeners should bring life back to the small building.