OBSERVATOIRE D'ÉPENDES
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The association that manages this beautiful observatory was founded in April 1977. It was soon declared to be in the public interest, and was able to expand. In 1981, the commune of Épendes decided to cede a 1,000 m² plot of land for the observatory. Work began in 1983, and the observatory was inaugurated in 1984. From the late 1980s onwards, the site was expanded and modernized, notably with the construction of a panoramic terrace with movable roof, and a planetarium. To this day, the observatory focuses on popularizing astronomy for the general public. The association was created on the initiative of Mrs. Daisy Naef-Ryter, who wished to honor the memory of her husband, Robert A. Naef, by installing his Reinfelder and Hertel telescope in a quality astronomical observatory. Indeed, for 50 years, Robert Adolf Naef, who worked at Zurich's Urania Observatory, devoted all his time and energy to popularizing astronomy. On May 21, 2004, a new-generation Keller telescope was inaugurated, offering top-level performance. For those in the know, this is a Cassegrain-type telescope, with a 500 mm diameter mirror and a focal length of 5,000 mm. The mount on which it is mounted is computer-controlled. It specializes in deep-sky objects, including nebulae and galaxies. Evening events and guided tours are organized on a regular basis.
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