The trip to the Effelsberg telescope was the prize for the participants in the regional ‘Physics Brawl’ competition. ‘Physics Brawl’ is an international competition in which students interested in physics collect points in teams by solving various physics problems. Under the initiative of Andreas Poll and the Particle World Network in Bonn, a regional competition has also been held for the past two years. The best teams from the region are honoured with certificates and prizes in addition to the main event. In addition to quark puzzles and jute bags, the prizes also included a trip to the Effelsberg telescope.
The excursion to the Eifel region began in Bonn, where the coach picked up the 30 participants. After just under an hour's journey, the first observant eyes could spot the large dish of the Effelsberg telescope. We were warmly welcomed on-site by Dr Norbert Junkes. A special feature of this guided tour was that all participants were asked to switch their mobile phones to flight mode or, ideally, to switch them off completely. The reason is that mobile phones and other electronic devices emit interference signals that can affect the observations of the telescope.
In the introductory lecture, the participants learnt about various aspects of astronomy and the Effelsberg telescope. Firstly, they talked about distances in the universe, which are clearly illustrated on the site by a planetary and galaxy trail. One particularly memorable example was that the distance to the end of our planetary system on the scale of the planetary path extends approximately as far as the visitor car park. However, the nearest star on this scale would only be found in Chile. It was also explained how gravitational waves are measured with the help of quasars and how the first photo of a black hole was taken.
During the subsequent tour, various stations were visited: the old primary focus, the main telescope and the control room. The telescope was deliberately built in a valley to protect it from interfering radiation. When choosing the location, however, care was taken to ensure that there was a good view to the south, as this is where astronomical objects reach their peak. The choice of colour for the telescope is not random either: radio astronomical observations are disturbed by heat. In addition, temperature fluctuations can lead to deformation of the telescope. For this reason, a particularly reflective white colour was chosen. In the control room, the pupils were able to watch the telescope operators live at work.
Finally, the students had a picnic in the Eifel before heading back to Bonn. We would like to thank Dr. Norbert Junkes and the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy once again for the great tour and look forward to the next time!
