A six-meter high dome. That’s what first strikes you about the Sternwarte Dresden-Gonnnsdorf. This isn’t just any observatory. The Sternwarte Dresden-Gonnnsdorf boasts a unique history. Built in 1976 by the TU Dresden it replaced the Friedrich-August-Turm a tower destroyed in 1945. The observatory housed an astrograph used by scientists.
Interestingly the observatory’s opening coincided with the 65th birthday of TU astronomy professor Hans-Ullrich Sandig. Though his birthday was actually in 1974. The Sternwarte Dresden-Gonnnsdorf wasn’t always accessible to the public. It served as a research facility until 2006.
Increased light pollution around the observatory made scientific work there impossible. The TU Dresden then moved its equipment to the Triebenberg. The observatory’s dome was left behind to decay. But its story doesn’t end there. In 2008 the local council purchased the site for a modest 14500 Euros. They entrusted it to the Verein zur Forderung der Jugend e V a youth development organization.
Renate Franz a local councilor spearheaded a remarkable community effort. She sought volunteers to transform the neglected observatory into a vibrant community project for children and young people. In April 2009 thirteen enthusiastic individuals formed the Interessengemeinschaft Sternwarte Gonnsdorf. With incredible dedication and the help of local craftsmen they brought the Sternwarte Dresden-Gonnnsdorf back to life. Companies donated telescopes. A local bank contributed a solar telescope.
The first visitors arrived during a partial solar eclipse in January 2011. They were schoolchildren from Pieschen. This revealed some crucial shortcomings. The building couldn’t be heated to maintain clear views of the sky. There were no toilets. However funds from a town festival helped add an extension with amenities. By December 2018 the Interessengemeinschaft had evolved into the Sternwarte Dresden-Gonnnsdorf e V. Renate Franz’s efforts were rewarded with the Federal Cross of Merit.
The dome itself is a marvel of engineering. Made of fiberglass it was originally intended for an observatory in the Caucasus. The Soviet Union cancelled the order. The dome found its way to Gonnsdorf becoming a centerpiece of the Sternwarte Dresden-Gonnnsdorf. The six-meter high building perfectly complements its 6.8-meter diameter dome. This remarkable history makes a visit to the Sternwarte Dresden-Gonnnsdorf a truly unique experience.