Effelsberg 100-m Radio Telescope

The Effelsberg telescope features a collecting area of 7,850 square meters with a precisely engineered mirror surface spanning 100 meters in diameter.

Inaugurated in 1972, this radio telescope maintained its position as the largest fully steerable instrument of its kind worldwide for 29 consecutive years.

The Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy allocates 45 percent of observation time to external astronomers, fostering international scientific collaboration.

The telescope requires visitors to deactivate mobile phones and electronic devices during observations to prevent interference with radio signal reception.

The computer-designed mirror support structure maintains perfect parabolic shape regardless of gravitational forces when pointing in different directions.

Official opening: August 1, 1972

Elevation above the sea: 319 m

Diameter: 100 m

Part of: European VLBI Network

Website: https://mpifr-bonn.mpg.de/en/effelsberg

GPS coordinates: 50.52472,6.88278

Latest update: May 26, 2025 21:45