Program

What do we do? With space-based telescopes, we look up to observe stars, planets, and black holes, learning how they operate. We also look down from above at the atmosphere of our own planet, Earth, to see what is happening with the climate. These telescopes are developed at SRON, in collaboration with researchers from other countries.

What can our telescopes do? They can capture light that is not easily detectable from Earth due to interference from the atmospheric mix and clouds. They often detect special types of light that our eyes cannot see well, such as X-rays, which doctors also use to take pictures of your bones or teeth, or infrared light, which is very effective at detecting heat and cold on Earth.

Some space telescopes create panoramic or detailed images. Additionally, there are telescopes that can read "fingerprints" in the light, revealing the temperature of cosmic dust, its motion, and whether it is clumping together or exploding.

What will you learn at the open day?

At the open day, we will show how we conduct our research and how we first conceive, test, and refine new sensitive telescopes on Earth, before finally making them suitable for use in space.

We conduct experiments, offer demonstrations, and give engaging lectures. Visitors of all ages can learn a lot. What do you look like through a thermal telescope? Can you solder in the electrolab? Is there (too much) life on other planets? How do you track greenhouse gases moving through our air? Come and find out in Leiden and/or Groningen. In Groningen, our Open Day is part of the science festival Zpannend Zernike.