Rathenower Refraktor, Refracting telescope in Rathenow, Germany
The Rathenower Refraktor is a large observing instrument with a 70-centimeter aperture and a focal length of 20.80 meters. The tube has a cigar-shaped form, and visitors can step onto a covered platform in the middle to access the interior, where sensors track humidity and temperature.
Engineer Edwin Rolf built this astronomical instrument between 1949 and 1953 in his garden. The Academy of Sciences of East Germany supported the project and helped make this remarkable work possible.
The instrument has stood in Optikpark since 2008, where it demonstrates the role of optical engineering in astronomy to visitors. People come here to learn about light technology and how telescopes help us see the sky.
The site offers good visiting conditions during daylight hours when there is enough light to see the structure properly. Visitors should be prepared to climb stairs or stand on the platform to explore the interior space.
The instrument ranks among the nine largest worldwide by aperture size and stands second in focal length. Only the Giant Telescope in Berlin-Treptow has a longer focal length than this remarkable structure.
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