The observatory near Prague will present the secrets of astronomy. Rabbits and orchids can also be added
From morning to deep night
Invitation to the Open Days at the observatory in Ondřejov in Prague-East.“The visit is suitable not only for serious interest, but also for lay people or for families with children,” Suchan pointed out that deeper training in the field is definitely not harmful, but not necessary at all. They will be open between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on both days; in the evening after dark, astronomers will offer telescope observations of the sky in clear weather. And an hour before midnight, the “planetarium live” program will run – an outdoor performance of the constellations and attractions of the starry sky: under a real star sky.
During the day, you can look forward to a tour of the largest telescope in the Czech Republic – Perk’s telescope weighing 84 tons, whose main mirror has a diameter of two meters – and those interested will learn what this technique is used for. And everyone is amazed by the technologies they use to process the results of observations. Other remarkable telescopes and radio telescopes can be seen during visits to the Solar Department, the Department of Interplanetary Matter or the workplace of the High Energy Astrophysics Group of the Stellar Department.
Introduction to history and the present
If meteors also belong to the specialization of research in Ondřejov, those interested will receive insider’s instruction about these “falling stars” and their materialization in the form of meteorites hitting the earth’s surface. Enthusiasts can also look forward to a tour of the historical valuable instruments used in the past to make this observation.
The history is also reminiscent of a visit to the two original domes (of which the West will offer binocular observation in good weather), as well as the Vojtěch Šafařík Museum, which represents the past of the observatory and the personality of its founder Josef Jan Frič. There will also be various exhibitions or installations on display.
A unique sight. People could watch the superficial moon, wait for the next one
Some accompanying programs will be available only occasionally. For example, a workshop with the production of a spectroscope is going to take place on Friday afternoon; on Saturday afternoon and early evening, it will again be possible to attend lectures on modern radio astronomy or the involvement of Czech scientists in the European Southern Observatory project.
Animals, flowers and music
It has traditionally been visit to the observatory possible to combine with a tour of the exhibition of small animals – pigeons, poultry and rabbits – prepared by Ondrejov breeders on the playground near the parking lot; there is a voluntary entrance fee and will be open on Saturday from nine in the morning to six in the evening. From 2 pm it will be possible to listen to the performances of the folk group VilMa free of charge.
In addition, the observatory team comes with a botanical-ecological warning. The meadows in the orchard near the observatory are not mown – and so on purpose. This is where the strictly protected May rings – orchids of our nature bloom. Not only will they not mow until their flowering, but access to lawns is also not allowed. Not to mention picking flowers!
Invitation to the Open Days at the observatory in Ondřejov in Prague-East.