Proposals for further locations on the Halde Hoheward

After the completion of the obelisk and the horizon observatory in the first and second construction stage, the slag heap will be completed during the third and fourth stages. The Initiativkreis Horizontastronomie im Ruhrgebiet has collected a list of ideas for additional locations, continuing the concept of an astronomical park.

The original idea consisted of distributing the stations across the slag heap, so that they would appear from above as a famous stellar cluster the Pleiades. From this idea derives our private initiative logo.

The Sea of Sky
In the sea of sky, a large lake on the plateau of the slag heap summit, the sky, Sun, and the stars are mirrored. In the lake earth, water, and the sky are in contact at the highest horizon of the slag heap (concept ‘New Horizons’ from Prof. Henri Bava, Agence Ter)

The Troy Town
The Troy Town is a mythical maze which symbolises the twists in the path of life. Already during the bronze-age Troy Towns were erected at prominent landmarks throughout Europe. They could also possibly represent the migration of the Sun which moves along a double spiral in the sky during an entire year. You can take the shortest path to the centre, however the predefined path calls upon ones discipline and leisure to follow the numerous twists to the centre.

The Camera Obscura
The camera obscura is a dark cave within the slag heap, approachable through a declining gangway. At the time of the winter solstice the light of the midday’s Sun falls through the gangway into the centre of the cave, a principle realised also in stoneage monuments. A rotating mirror inside a turret with a telescope optic projects the horizon of the Ruhr area and the rising and setting sun into the darkness of the cave.

The Mirror Telephone
The mirror telephone is a signalling instrument consisting of a freely pivoting mirror that sends solar reflections over long distances to a faraway recipient. With more mirrors on the Gasometer in Oberhausen, at the Tetraeder in Bottrop and other locations a communication network is created spanning the entirety of the Ruhr area. The mirror telephone work according to the signalling mirror in the lighthouse of Alexandria, on of the seven wonders of the world.

Further Ideas
Sundisk Installation
Display of Stellar Constellations
Celestial Globe
Simulation of Moon’s gravity