Improving the Wendelstein Observatory for a 2m-class telescope

Abstract

The Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munchen operates an observatory on the summit of Mt. Wendelstein in the Bavarian alps which will be equipped with a modern 2 m-class, robotic telescope. We did extensive site evaluations and started various monitoring programs on transmission, extinction, and seeing. Implementation and results of these monitorings are reported. We further present our strategy to prepare the observatory for this major upgrade, including hardware installations (besides the telescope), network and software infrastructure upgrades, as well as improvements in the observatory operations. We aim at most efficient observations in a "low-person-power" situation on a site which allows only partial robotic operations. The basic telescope design and the strategy for its first generation of instruments are briefly discussed.