The Thuringian State Observatory Tautenburg (TLS) is a research institute of the Free State of Thuringia. It conducts basic research in astrophysics. The astronomers
- search for and characterize extrasolar planets,
- observe and analyze solar and stellar oscillations,
- explore gamma-ray bursts,
- investigate the processes of star formation,
- examine the structure and evolution of the Milky Way and distant galaxies,
- and track asteroids.
TLS researchers use various telescopes for their observations: TLS astronomers observe at large telescopes worldwide. The centerpiece in Tautenburg is the 2-meter Alfred-Jensch Telescope for observation in the optical spectral range. The Thuringian State Observatory also operates a station of the European radio telescope Low Frequency Array (LOFAR).
The optical Alfred-Jensch Telescope is the largest Schmidt camera in the world. Due to its design, the Schmidt mirror has a very large field of view, allowing the 2-meter telescope of the Thuringian State Observatory to observe and photograph extensive celestial objects such as galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, and the orbits of asteroids well. As a universal telescope, it can be converted into a Coude telescope.
LOFAR is the world's largest radio telescope for receiving radio waves and ultrashort waves. The receiver stations are distributed across several countries in Europe: 38 stations are located at the headquarters in the Netherlands, six in Germany (one of them in Tautenburg), and others in France, Ireland, Latvia, Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Since January 2024, LOFAR is operated by a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC). The Thuringian State Observatory represents the German participants in the LOFAR ERIC.
A solar laboratory is being established at the Thuringian State Observatory to develop instruments for continuous, automatic monitoring of the sun. Solar activity can affect technological systems. Therefore, its investigation is becoming increasingly urgent. The exploration of the interior of the sun and of stars and their magnetic activity is being expanded as a research field at the Thuringian State Observatory.
Currently, a total of 50 employees are employed at the Thuringian State Observatory, including 35 in the scientific field, including junior research groups and scientific assistants.
We stand for an open-minded Thuringia
The Thuringian State Observatory in Tautenburg is a research institution that promotes diversity and individuality based on respect and tolerance, and opposes anti-democratic and discriminatory tendencies. For this reason, we support the initiative "Weltoffenes Thüringen" (Open-minded Thuringia). The decentralized, networked initiative aims to send a signal that many people, institutions, associations, and companies in the state stand for a democratic, diverse, and open-minded Thuringia. For more information about "Weltoffenes Thüringen" and the opportunity to support the initiative, please visit: www.thueringen-weltoffen.de
Latest News
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Program of the Long Night of the Stars on October 26 2024
- Information
- 16 September 2024
On 26. October 2024 the Thuringian state observatory invites to the "Long Night of the Stars". From 17:00 to 24:00 o'clock, the observatory in Tautenburg Forest can be visited. We will be observing the night sky, explain constellations and talk about our scientific projects. If the weather permits,... -
Observing campaign at TLS on T Coronae Borealis - A recurrent nova about to explode
- Information
- 07 August 2024
In ancient times, the Romans or ancient Greeks were already observing "new stars", which they called stella novae. These are transient astronomical events that cause a sudden brightness increase of a stellar object up to 6 to 19 magnitudes, which then slowly fades over weeks or months. Such nova eru... -
TLS Researchers find proof of the most energetic accretion burst of a massive young star
- Information
- 30 July 2024
Young stars brighten considerably when they go through phases of rapid growth. Such episodes are known as accretion bursts. Researchers at the Thuringian State Observatory identified the most energetic accretion burst of a massive young star yet discovered. For the first time, they modeled how the t... -
An Upgrade for the international Radio Telescope LOFAR
- Information
- 05 July 2024
The last regular observation cycle of the first generation of the LOFAR radio telescope ended on May 31, 2024. The radio telescope will be upgraded over the next two years. On June 10, 2024, the founding of the LOFAR European Research Infrastructure Consortium (LOFAR ERIC) was celebrated. When you wo...
Interesting Topics
Exoplanets
How unique is our solar system in our galaxy, the Milky Way? How are planets actually formed? How common are extrasolar planets? And what conditions must be present for life to arise on planets ? Astronomers at the Thuringian State Observatory have been studying ...Read more
Galaxies, Galaxy Clusters, Quasars
Since light travels at a finite speed, looking deep into space is also a look back into the history of the universe. In recent decades, it has become possible to look so deep into the universe that observations reveal cosmologically relevant developmental effects on large scales...Read more
2-m Universal Mirror Telescope
The centerpiece of the Tautenburg Observatory for optical spectral range observations is the 2-m Universal Mirror Telescope. When it was first commissioned, it was one of the five largest telescopes in the world. In 1992...Read more
History of TLS
The history of the observatory in the Tautenburg Forest begins in 1947 with a meeting between the then director of the Astrophysical Observatory Potsdam, Hans Kienle, and leading employees of the astronomy department of the company Carl Zeiss (CZ) in Jena, during which Kienle...Read more
Team
Job Postings
Research Associate in Radio Astronomy
15.08.2024
The TLS offers a research associate position in radio astronomy. The position is intended to strengthen TLS research in the fields of interstellar medium physics, galaxy evolution, cluster physics, radio galaxies or transient objects, and to support TLS's role in the LOFAR European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC). Successful candidates will be expected to take advantage of the TLS participation in LOFAR, for example by working with long baseline data from the international LOFAR stations, or by working with MeerKAT data. The research may be carried out in close collaboration with the upcoming large LOFAR programmes. An existing involvement in the analysis of LOFAR, MeerKAT and/or ASKAP data would be advantageous and the establishment of scientific projects involving these facilities would be strongly encouraged.
Gallery
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