Observatory

My observatory is located in one of the most impressive regions in the world: on the Tivoli Southern Sky Guest Farm in the red sands of the Kalahari Desert, directly on the Tropic of Capricorn. With 260 to 280 clear nights a year, this unique region offers optimal conditions for astronomical observations. The stable weather conditions, the very low humidity and the light pollution-free sky create ideal conditions for astrophotography.

The observatory itself is state of the art and fully automated. It can be conveniently controlled via the Internet, allowing efficient and flexible use - regardless of the observer's location. The equipment is complemented by an all-sky camera, which has the entire sky in view, as well as a Sky Quality Meter (SQM) to measure the quality of the sky and a reliable weather monitoring system to ensure the safety of the equipment.

The building measures 4 x 3 meters and is located at an altitude of 1,345 meters above sea level. The mount is an ASA DDM 100, which is known for its excellent precision and stability. Mounted on it is a 16-inch Ritchey-Chrétien telescope from ASA with a focal length of 3200 mm. This configuration is particularly suitable for detailed observations and photographs of distant celestial objects.