C11 mounted on 10-Mikron 2000 with camera for slit ZWO 224 MC and ATIK 383L+ (KAF 8300) together with a finder using a Image Source DMK

The VdS Remote Observatories Section has taken advantage of an offer to take over a dome at the ROSA site. ROSA stands for Remote Observatories Southern Alps and is located approximately 120 km as the crow flies from Marseille.

As a test setup, a C11 equipped with a homebuilt low-resolution spectrograph was initially installed. The entire setup, up to and including the mount, is owned by the VdS. The optical components were initially sourced from my own inventory and that of the PANDORA team https://pandora-spectra.de/  

We are currently still working to resolve various technical challenges.

After that, a trial operation is planned, partly to understand how telescope access can be managed. This phase will be used to get familiar with the operation and the specific quirks of the setup.

In the medium term, we want to use this installation to support pro-am campaigns as much as possible, and to make access to spectroscopy more appealing to interested student groups. I hope this will help "rejuvenate" our section a bit.

Furthermore, the Remote Observatories Section continues to discuss broader use of the site. I currently assume that the capability for spectroscopic observations will be maintained.

Updates will be shared here or on the Remote Observatories Section website at https://remotesternwarten.sternfreunde.de/ .

Please send any questions to:  .
 

Georg Piehler, September 2026