Astronomical Exchange and Flea Market: ATT 2017 in Essen

The Astronomical Exchange and Flea Market, known as ATT, has become a significant gathering for amateur astronomers who are willing to travel great distances for telescope meetings and astronomy fairs. This year marked the 33rd edition of the event, held on May 13, 2017, in Essen.

Since its inception in 1983, the name "ATT" has remained unchanged, but the concept has evolved into an astronomy fair that caters to the dreams of amateur astronomers. Attendees can explore a variety of offerings, including telescopes, mounts, binoculars, accessories, cameras, astro-travel opportunities, astronomical literature, meteorites, antiques, and much more. It serves as a vibrant platform for enthusiasts to connect with like-minded individuals, manufacturers, dealers, public observatories, and astronomy clubs.

I attended the event on behalf of "Sterne und Weltraum," equipped with my notebook and camera. This year, I noticed a slightly lower turnout compared to previous years, which was evident throughout the venue.

All photographs in this blog post were taken by Stefan Oldenburg.

Images from the Event

The following images capture various moments from the fair, including scenes at the entrance of the Gymnasium Stoppenberg and the ticket booth:

Inside the main hall, the largest exhibitor stand was that of Baader Planetarium, showcasing a variety of astronomical equipment:

Meteorites, presented by Stefan König, captured the fascination of many attendees:

Discussions among enthusiasts were a common sight:

Numerous classrooms featured a wide array of used equipment, vintage books, magazines, and countless intriguing items:

A unique image captured a moment with an unusual telescope and an eager paparazzo:

Some attendees appeared to need more convincing about the offerings:

Star Wars Episode III memorabilia also made an appearance:

A discreet exchange of equipment took place:

Spheretec showcased self-developed accessories for stargazers, including an LED headlamp:

The choice between refractors and reflectors was a topic of interest:

At the "Sterne und Weltraum" booth, numerous discussions took place:

An astrophysicist was seen engaging in a game of chance:

The Füssener Sternfreunde presented a unique planetarium:

Intercon Spacetec featured a Go-To mount designed to simplify locating celestial objects:

A compact binocular model from Vixen, the SG 2.1 x 42, encouraged attendees to experience the beauty of the Milky Way:

Intercon Spacetec also offered the Fujinon MT 10 x 70 as a fair special, a model cherished by many:

At the Oculum Verlag booth:

A creative business idea for telescope leasing was also presented:

The basement of the Gymnasium Stoppenberg housed more exhibits:

Historical telescopes were on display:

Bresser's booth showcased their latest offerings:

Small spotting scopes from Celestron drew attention for their impressive optical performance despite their size:

In the main hall, various exhibitor stands were bustling with activity:

Baltes & Erbe provided electronic music, becoming a staple of the ATT experience:

A comparison of eyepieces, including the notable 30-mm eyepiece from Explore Scientific, was also featured:

Exhibitor stands filled the hall, showcasing various products:

Intense discussions were ongoing at the Albireo Verlag booth:

The photographs shared in this post were all taken in natural light without flash and are part of my assignment for "Sterne und Weltraum." I have obtained permission from some attendees for the publication of their images, though not all. If anyone has concerns regarding a particular photo, please let me know, and I will remove it accordingly.

Clear Skies, Stefan Oldenburg