The 42nd Congress of the Polish Astronomical Society (PTA) is drawing to a close – the largest Polish conference dedicated to space research. This year’s edition is of a special nature, as it takes place during the bicentennial anniversary of the University of Warsaw Astronomical Observatory: a place that for two centuries has witnessed breakthrough discoveries and served as an inspiration for subsequent generations of researchers.
The inaugural lecture by Prof. Jarosław Włodarczyk reminded participants that the beginnings of the Warsaw Observatory were possible thanks to the passion and determination of a young astronomer, Franciszek Armiński. It was his vision that ensured the institution matched the best centers in Europe as early as the 19th century. The Jubilee and the Congress thus became an opportunity to honor both the contemporary achievements of Polish space researchers and the historical heritage that has inspired subsequent generations of astronomers for two centuries.
The Congress program was very rich and diverse, encompassing both lectures related to the history of the Observatory and presentations of the latest research results. The event gathered specialists in the field of astronomy – from recognized scientific authorities to young researchers whose achievements are already impressive. Such a broad representation of the community shows how vigorously Polish astronomy is developing.
It is worth emphasizing that among the members of the Nicolaus Copernicus Academy are important figures of Polish astronomy directly associated with the event:
prof. Andrzej Udalski, director of the University of Warsaw Astronomical Observatory,
and prof. Marek Sarna, president of the Polish Astronomical Society.
During the ceremony, prof. Andrzej Udalski was honored with the prestigious Bohdan Paczyński Medal, awarded for distinguished achievements in the field of astronomy. The 42nd PTA
Congress was an opportunity to combine tradition with modernity, experience with youthful passion, the past with the future, and a form of celebrating the two-hundred-year tradition of sky research in Poland.