Mitteilung

Astronomen bauen das fortschrittlichste Observatorium der Welt aus LEGO®

29. Juni 2017

Es brauchte einige der klügsten Köpfe aus Wissenschaft und Technologie, um das Paranal-Observatorium der ESO in Chile zu bauen, eine der größten und komplexesten Teleskop-Anlagen der Welt. Jetzt haben der niederländische Astronom Frans Snik und sein engagiertes Team ein einzigartiges LEGO®-Modell des gesamten Paranal-Standortes geschaffen – mit kompletten Nachbauten der vier 8,2-Meter VLT-Hauptteleskope, der vier 1,8-Meter-Hilfsteleskope und anderen erstaunlich minuziösen Details. [1]

Das verblüffende Modell-Unikat wurde der ESO übergeben und ist jetzt im ESO-Hauptsitz in Garching ausgestellt. Wenn das ESO Supernova-Planetarium & Besucherzentrum im Frühjahr 2018 am Hauptsitz eröffnet, wird das LEGO®-Modell dort zu sehen sein.

Das Modell des Paranal-Standortes in einem Maßstab von etwa 1:150 umfasst die VLT-Teleskope und ihre Kuppelbauten sowie alle Instrumente, die am echten VLT benutzt werden. Darüber hinaus liefert es akkurate Modelle des VST, von VISTA und des Kontrollgebäudes. Jedes 8,2-Meter-Hauptteleskop auf der VLT-Plattform besteht aus genau 3104 Teilen, und das komplette Paranal-Plattform-Modell erfordert mehr als 25.000 Einzelteile – zuzüglich einer erheblichen Menge an Zeit und Geduld! Die Teleskope sind beweglich und die Kuppelspalte und Lüftugnsklappen lassen sich öffnen und schließen. Die vier Hilfsteleskope können entlang von Schienen in Position gebracht werden, ganz wie die echten, und die VLTI-Tunnel beherbergen ein funktionstüchtiges Mini-Interferometer, das echte Interferenzstreifen produzieren kann.

Der Bau eines Modell-Teleskops eignet sich hervorragend, um zu verstehen, wie komplex moderne astronomische Instrumente arbeiten. Jeder, der ehrgeizig genug ist (und rund 5000 Euro übrig hat), kann seine eigene Version dieser riesigen Teleskopanlage bauen. Frans Snik wird gern die nötige Anleitung zur Verfügung stellen.

Als ob das alles noch nicht genug wäre, kann auch das ESO Extremely Large Telescope, das gerade in der Nähe des Paranals entsteht, nachgebaut werden – im selben Maßstab wie das Paranal-Modell. Und aus LEGO®.

Endnoten

[1] Der Grundstein für das kleinformatige LEGO®-Paranal wurde 2014 gelegt, als Snik sein erstes LEGO®-Modell des ESO Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) entwarf und errichtete. Später wurde das VLT-Modell konzipiert.

Links

Kontaktinformationen

Frans Snik
Sterrewacht Leiden, Leiden University
Leiden, Niederlande
Tel: +31 71 527 8431
E-Mail: snik@strw.leidenuniv.nl

Richard Hook
ESO Public Information Officer
Garching bei München
Tel: +49 89 3200 6655
Mobil: +49 151 1537 3591
E-Mail: rhook@eso.org

Über die Mitteilung

ID:ann17038

Bilder

Übergabe des LEGO®-Modells der Paranal-Plattforman den ESO-Generaldirektor
Übergabe des LEGO®-Modells der Paranal-Plattforman den ESO-Generaldirektor
Feinschliff am LEGO®-Modell der VLT-Plattform
Feinschliff am LEGO®-Modell der VLT-Plattform
Ein LEGO®-Interferometer!
Ein LEGO®-Interferometer!
Alle VLT-Teleskope gibt es jetzt im LEGO®-Modell
Alle VLT-Teleskope gibt es jetzt im LEGO®-Modell

Videos

ESOcast 114 Light: VLT-LEGO®-Modell (4K UHD)
ESOcast 114 Light: VLT-LEGO®-Modell (4K UHD)
Eine Tour durch das Paranal-Observatorium der ESO im Miniaturformat
Eine Tour durch das Paranal-Observatorium der ESO im Miniaturformat
Das LEGO®-Interferometer entsteht
Das LEGO®-Interferometer entsteht
Bau der Wüstenlandschaft
Bau der Wüstenlandschaft
Eine Basis bauen
Eine Basis bauen
Bau der Plattform
Bau der Plattform
Zusammensetzen des Paranals
Zusammensetzen des Paranals
Laser-Leitsterne im LEGO®-Modell
Laser-Leitsterne im LEGO®-Modell
Bau des VLT
Bau des VLT
Teamwork beim Bau des VLT
Teamwork beim Bau des VLT
Justage eines LEGO®-Hauptteleskops
Justage eines LEGO®-Hauptteleskops
Nachwuchsastronomen arbeiten am Paranal
Nachwuchsastronomen arbeiten am Paranal
Das Paranal-Observatorium aus LEGO® bauen
Das Paranal-Observatorium aus LEGO® bauen
Paranal-Bau im Zeitraffer
Paranal-Bau im Zeitraffer
Paranal-Bau im Zeitraffer
Paranal-Bau im Zeitraffer

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