Public Events
Various events take place at the AIP on the Babelsberg campus or at its historic site on Potsdam's Telegrafenberg. In addition, virtual formats are accessible from all over the world.
Observation evenings at the Great Refractor
The Great Refractor on Telegrafenberg can be experienced in action during winter: Visitors get to look at the stars through the historical telescope during our observation evenings. The dates are listed here: Dates Observation evenings
Babelsberg Starry Nights
Our popular lecture series is currently taking place online. Usually on the third Thursday of each month, a new lecture by an AIP scientist is broadcast on the YouTube channel Urknall, Weltall und das Leben or videowissen from 7 or 8 p.m.. The dates, speakers and topics as well as links to the previously published lectures can be found on this website (German):
https://www.aip.de/babelsberger-sternennaechte/
This link can also be found in our flyer, the dates are also entered in the AIP Calendar.
Please note: nearly all the talks are given in German.
Long Night of Astronomy at the Great Refractor - 19th October 2024
'Starlight Stories: A journey through time and space' - This was the title of our event for the Long Night of Astronomy 2024 on 19th October. About 200 guests experienced a fascinating journey through the universe in the Great Refractor at the Telegrafenberg in Potsdam. Some impressions of this event are available here: Long Night of Astronomy 2024 in the Great Refractor.
Leibniz "Book a Scientist"
AIP scientists regularly take part in the (virtual) Leibniz Association event series "Book a Scientist". People interested in science can book an exclusive virtual talk on the scientists' respective research topics, from planets around other stars to black holes and galaxies.
Day of Open Monuments
The AIP invited visitors to the Telegrafenberg in Potsdam on September 8, 2024 to take part in the Day of Open Monuments. The focus was on the Einstein Tower, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The Great Refractor, which has been in use for 125 years, also opened its doors to the historic refracting telescope. The members of the “Förderverein Großer Refraktor e.V.” association offered guided tours of the astrophysical highlights of the Telegrafenberg as well as a demonstration of the telescope.
Potsdam Science Day
The Potsdam Science Day took place at the Telegrafenberg on 4 May 2024. The AIP opened the Great Refractor, the Einstein tower and the Michelson basement, and brought the stars a little closer to visitors with a mixed programme.
Girls' Day / Zukunftstag Brandenburg
On the previous Girls' Day and Zukunftstag Brandenburg on 25 April 2024, around 20 school girls visited the AIP and got to know the institute and some female scientists, explored the Milky Way with VR glasses and created constellations in 3D. The next Girls' Day and the Zukunftstag Brandenburg for school students is going to take place on 3 April 2025. More information is available at the page Information for schools.