Tower Observatory Copenhagen

[Startrek]

Our youngest daughter is enjoying her honeymoon in Iceland and Europe and sent me these photos of the tower observatory in Copenhagen
Anyone know the details of this telescope ?
It’s obviously a refractor with a long focal length
The tower is 16th century vintage I believe, don’t know about the age of the telescope.

[iborg]

Yeah! Found something

A picture from Rundetaarn Public Observatory in the middle of Copenhagen where Copenhagen Astronomical Society has shown the stars since 1982.
The telescope is an semiapo f/15 6" Merz refractor from 1929. The other telescope is a 4" Unitron.

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/87003-6-merz-refractor/

Philip

[Startrek]

Thanks Philip
F15 Hmm.... looks more like a anti aircraft gun from WW2 than a telescope
Small aperture too at only 6”
A bit of European astronomical history
Cheers

[lazjen]

"The Round Tower" - I visited it a couple of years ago. You can read the details here of the observatory: http://www.rundetaarn.dk/en/the-observatory/

Most of the way up the tower is a winding ramp (see image here: http://www.rundetaarn.dk/en/the-tower/). One of the interesting tales is about Peter the Great - he road his horse up the tower with his wife in a carriage following. No idea how they got the carriage back down. (http://www.rundetaarn.dk/en/the-tower/tales-from-the-tower/tsar-on-horseback/)

From the observatory deck level itself, you can get good views of Copenhagen, weather permitting.

[Startrek]

Thanks for the info Chris
Must have a great experience visiting this tower with all its history
Cheers

[lazjen]

Yes it was an interesting experience. Probably more historical than anything. Parts of it are used as a museum or exhibition area as well, not necessarily related to astronomy.