Baader Observatory Solutions

As a subsidiary of Baader Planetarium GmbH, Baader Observatory Solutions installed a 1-meter telescope in Chile as early as the beginning of 2023, at one of the world’s best locations with around 320 clear nights per year. The aim of Baader Observatory Solutions is to provide discerning users – from researchers to dedicated astrophotographers – with a professional observation platform. Until now, the project has deliberately not been made public, as it was initially part of an industrial Space Situational Awareness (SSA) contract under strict confidentiality, and at the same time served as an internal proof of concept for setup & remote operation. With the completion of the core mission, more observation time is now available – which is why we are presenting this remote telescope here for the first time as well as in more detail at www.baader-os.com.

Challenges and Special Features

• Site selection and infrastructure: The altitude of about 1700 meters and the remote location required careful planning during construction and maintenance. However, with SQM values of up to 22.1 and an average seeing of around 1 arcsecond, we can take advantage of optimal astronomical conditions.
• Technical integration: The 40″ f/6 system with a 6000 mm focal length is based on an alt-azimuth mount, which enables high tracking accuracy (better than 1″ over 10 minutes). The biggest challenge here was to configure all instrument connections and the software control so that they work smoothly despite the sometimes harsh environmental conditions. Our team worked closely with our colleagues at PlaneWave to bring the system online quickly.
• Instrumentation: We used several cameras and filter wheels to meet both scientific and photographic requirements. The setup on the ports using the Baader IMP85 had to be precisely coordinated to ensure reliable operation at all times.
• Control: Fully operated via N.I.N.A. (Nighttime Imaging ‘N’ Astronomy) with advanced sequencer, plate solving, and PHD2 guiding.

Current Use and Outlook

At present, the telescope is still primarily used by industrial and research customers who are working on specific scientific questions or conducting long-term studies. Gradually, however, we plan to make this infrastructure accessible to astronomy enthusiasts as well. The goal is to rent out the powerful facility on demand, giving private users access to first-class observation data – without the need to build their own observatory.

Result and Conclusion

This project demonstrates that with careful planning and expertise in mechanical, optical, and software integration, even such a large observatory in a roll-off-roof building can be produced and operated almost “turnkey.” The high quality of all components, combined with on-site installation by our experienced observatory integration team, led to rapid commissioning and reliable performance.

Looking back, we can say that the telescope meets the highest expectations in terms of image quality and tracking accuracy. The location in Chile plays a decisive role – the excellent conditions benefit both scientific projects and demanding astrophotographers. For example, our customer Peter Bresseler used the telescope to capture an image that was selected as the APOD on August 1, 2025.
We are delighted that the cooperation with various partners and the interaction of all components has resulted in a powerful overall system. It demonstrates how effectively a high-end telescope can be operated over great distances – while offering a glimpse into the fascinating world of professional astronomy.