 The building of old Astronomical Observatory (south extension byMarcin Knackfuss) | |
| Alternative names | Vilnius University Astronomical Observatory |
|---|---|
| Organization | Vilnius University |
| Observatory code | 70 (before 1939), 570 (after 1939) |
| Location | Vilnius,Lithuania |
| Coordinates | 54°40′59.2″N25°17′11.4″E / 54.683111°N 25.286500°E /54.683111; 25.286500 |
| Altitude | 101 metres (331 ft) |
| Established | 1753 |
| Closed | 1881 (reopened in 1919) |
| Website | www |
| Architect | Marcin Knackfuss |
  Location of Vilnius University Astronomical Observatory | |
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 Related media on Commons | |
TheVilnius University Astronomical Observatory (Lithuanian:Vilniaus universiteto astronomijos observatorija) is an astronomical observatory ofVilnius University. It was founded in 1753 by the initiative ofThomas Zebrowski.[1] The observatory is the fourth oldest observatory in the Europe.[2][3][4][5] While the observatory is no longer able to make astronomical observations due tolight pollution in Vilnius (observations are carried out atMolėtai Astronomical Observatory), it continues scientific research.
In 1753, by the initiative ofThomas Zebrowski, the Vilnius University Astronomical Observatory was established, which was among the first observatories inEurope and the first in thePolish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.[6][7] The construction was funded byElżbieta Ogińska-Puzynina. The first telescope (13.5 cmreflector) was donated byMichał Kazimierz "Rybeńko" Radziwiłł, Grand Hetman of the army of theGrand Duchy of Lithuania.[6] Second, 10 cm reflector, was donated by bishop of VilniusJózef Stanisław Sapieha.[6]
The golden age of the Observatory began whenMarcin Odlanicki Poczobutt was its director (1764–1807). In 1777, Poczobutt created aconstellation entitledTaurus Poniatovii to honorStanisław August Poniatowski,King of Poland andGrand Duke of Lithuania. He was remembered as a very skillful observer who left a large amount of observational data. Later those observations were used byJérôme Lalande in his calculations of the orbit ofMercury. Poczobutt also sanctioned the extension of the Observatory to the south. It was designed and built by the prominent architectMarcin Knackfus in 1782–88.[8]
Later the observatory was headed byJan Śniadecki (1807–1825) andPiotr Sławinski (1825–1843).[6] They observed planets, their satellites,asteroids andcomets, eclipses of the Sun and Moon. In 1861,Georg Thomas Sabler, the director of the observatory, proposed to acquire for that purpose new instruments, among which were a solarphotoheliograph, aphotometer and aspectroscope. Spectroscopic observations of the Sun and photometric observations of stars were subsequently initiated. A photoheliograph was successfully acquired in 1864; it was the second such device in the entire world (after the one inLondon).[9][6] In 1868, systematic photographic research of sunspot dynamics was launched, the first of its kind.[10][11]
In 1876, a fire broke out in the observatory, causing heavy damage. The observatory did not receive any funds for restoration and five years later was closed.[6] The library and instruments were distributed among various institutions of theRussian Empire, the main part of which was transferred to thePulkovo Observatory.[12]
The astronomical observatory was revived only afterWorld War I. In Vilnius, then occupied by Poland, a Department of Astronomy was set up at the reopened Vilnius University.[6]Władysław Dziewulski, a prominent Polish astronomer, was appointed as the head of this department. The location of the old observatory was no longer suitable for astronomical observations. Therefore, in 1921 it was decided to build a new observatory. For that purpose a site was allocated on the outskirts of the city nearVingis Park on the presentM.K.Čiurlionis street.[6] The observatory was equipped with two 15 cmZeissastrographs and a 48 cm reflector with a spectrograph.
AfterWorld War II activities of Lithuanian astronomers resumed at the newly-named Astronomical Observatory of Vilnius University. ProfessorPaulius Slavėnas became the head of the observatory. In 1957–62, several instruments (the 12 cm and 16 cm astrographs, 25 cm and 48 cm reflectors and the slitless Zeiss spectrograph) were restored and renovated. Research of variable stars and photometric observations using theVilnius multicolour photometric system, created byVytautas Straižys, began.
After the expansion of Vilnius, accurate astronomical observations became impossible due to air andlight pollution in the 1960s. In 1968, the 48 cm telescope was moved toSimeiz Observatory inCrimea where it was in use up to 1973. Later it was moved toMaidanak Observatory inUzbekistan. In 1974, the 63 cm reflector was put in operation atMolėtai Astronomical Observatory. The observatory became involved in the design and construction of photometric equipment for telescopes, in the study of variable stars, physical and chemical properties of stars, interstellar matter, as well as the structure of theMilky Way,Andromeda, andTriangulum galaxies. In 1960–92, in collaboration with the Institute of Physics and Mathematics, the Astronomical Observatory published theBulletin of the Vilnius Astronomical Observatory.
| Portrait | Name | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Zebrowski | 1753–1758 |
| Jakub Nakcjanowicz | 1758–1764 | |
 | Marcin Odlanicki Poczobutt | 1764–1807 |
 | Jan Śniadecki | 1807–1825 |
 | Piotr Sławinski | 1825–1843 |
| Michał Hłuszniewicz | 1843–1848 | |
| Georg Albert Fuss | 1848–1854 | |
| Georg Thomas Sabler | 1854–1865 | |
| Matvey Gusev | 1865–1866 | |
 | Pyotr Smyslov | 1866–1881 |
 | Władysław Dziewulski | 1922–1940 |
 | Bernardas Kodatis | 1940–1944 |
| Paulius Slavėnas | 1944–1952 | |
| Borisas Voronkovas | 1952–1956 | |
| Paulius Slavėnas | 1956–1969 | |
| Alfonsas Misiukas-Misiūnas | 1969–1978 | |
| Romualdas Kalytis | 1978–1992 | |
| Jokūbas Sūdžius | 1992–2008 | |
| Vladas Vansevičius | 2008–2017 |
{{cite book}}:|magazine= ignored (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)| International | |
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