Das 3,5 m-Teleskop

A description is presented of a telescope for the German-Spanish Astronomical Center at Calar Alto in Spain. The telescope, which is built by a German optical company, is the biggest telescope which has ever been employed by a German astronomical institute. The project was started in 1972. A central process computer is used almost exclusively for the control of the telescope. The optical system includes Cassegrain optics with a Ritchey-Chretien system, and a coude system. It is intended to use also an infrared system. Attention is given to details of instrument mounting, instrument control, the observatory building, the dome, and aspects of project implementation. It is expected to start operations with the telescope on an experimental basis at the beginning of 1983.