AGATE

In the preliminary phase of the project, an earth-bound telescope was constructed, the technological superiority of which was proven in optical and mechanical terms in engineering tests. After the "optimization phase" in Bochum, the hexapod telescope will be installed in the Atacama Desert (Chile, 350 clear nights) in 2003 and used for astronomical research.

Within the academy program, the project pursues two research goals:
1.) Investigations on the variability of young stars, whereby on the one hand temperature, luminosity, age, discoloration and mass of stars are determined, on the other hand the variability characteristics are compared in order to be able to provide a physical interpretation of the appropriate mechanism.
2.) To investigate the variability of quasars, the most luminous phenomena in the universe according to the current state of knowledge. Among other things, the spectral energy distribution is examined and whether the "hardness" of the radiation correlates with the brightness of the source. In addition, both variability programs will also detect microlensing effects, which enable conclusions to be drawn about the existence and nature of dark matter through the increase and decrease in brightness of a wide variety of objects.