www.baader-observatories.com
Our dome is the first production model of the 2.1 m slit domes. It was delivered in the winter of 1983/84, assembled by ourselves, and has been in trouble-free operation ever since. During that time it has also withstood severe storms such as the 1999 hurricane “Lothar” without showing any leaks.
The observatory was built in autumn 1983 by Prof. Dr. Günther Kurtze, who took up astronomy as a hobby upon retirement. At that time he came into contact with Claus Baader, when his son Thomas Baader was developing the prototype of the 2.1 m “Classic” slit domes in fiber-composite construction. The first unit of this dome series was delivered at the end of 1983 and could then be mounted on the building by our family without any problems. The observatory went into operation in January 1984.
Over the past almost 40 years, much has changed under the dome. In the beginning everything started with a classic Meade 2080 8" SC and black-and-white photography. In 2002 this was followed by an upgrade to CCD technology with the discovery of a minor planet. Since spring 2021, now with the support of Thomas Baader, a modern mount of the type 10Micron GM 1000 HPS has been in use – still well protected by the 2.1 m dome No. 1, the ancestor of all modern Baader slit domes. The GM1000 runs absolutely trouble-free, both with the 110/750 mm Zeiss (custom-made from Tautenburg with a Zeiss C objective) and with the 8" SC.
A generational change has taken place both in our family and at Baader, while the dome itself has remained practically unchanged and reliable in operation. Apart from replacing a cable after 35 years of operation and an adjustment of the locking mechanism right at the beginning (a suggested modification that was incorporated into the further development of the domes), the dome has remained unchanged in operation.
Only the moving components have developed a little “patina” over time, but this does not affect the function. Since very high-quality resins were apparently used in the manufacture of the fiber-composite elements, there have been no problems to this day with aging or embrittlement of the material due to UV light, as is often known from simple fiberglass components. Numerous storms that can reach our location 100 m above the Rhine valley unhindered from the west have also been withstood by the dome without damage.
Current drone footage from 2021
Alte Scans der Kuppel
