VIEW OF THE SKY - 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ZAGREB ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY

The stamps have been issued in se-tenant, in a 10-stamp sheet (5 x 2) alternation, and the First Day Cover (FDC) was also issued. 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ZAGREB ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY The Astronomical Observatory at Popov Toranj in the Zagreb Upper Town was formally opened on December 5, 1903. The first director of the Astronomical Observatory was Oton Kučera who, even at that early date, defined its fundamental activities: to contribute to the improvement of science and to spread the results of science among the Croatian intellectuals and youth. August Kopff, an astronomer from Heidelberg, contributed to the reputation of the Astronomical Observatory by naming the planetoid No.589, discovered in 1906, Croatia, in honour of opening the Astronomical Observatory. From its very beginning, the Astronomical Observatory has intensified its activity on promoting scientific perceptions among the citizens and the young, and in time the popularization of astronomy and its related sciences, as well as a permanent support to educational astronomy turned out to be its fundamental activity. In the 50s of the 20th century, the Astronomical Observatory became known all over the world with its issues written in Esperanto. There were translations into Esperanto of the journal Man and Space (Homo kaj Kosmo), then the science-fiction play of young astronomers Drama in Space (Tragedio en la Universo), further there is the publication about the International Esperanto-astronomical camp of friends of the peace, organized in Primošten, etc. These activities were also part of a wider humanization of science. At the time of an increased interest in astronomy, due to the successful flights of Soviet and American space ships into space, there is a new approach to forms of work: astronomical summer schools are being organized, also school competitions in astronomy, camps, courses, astronomical expeditions and observations. When the new, electrified telescope was acquired in the 60s of the 20th century, a higher quality of expert and popularization work was made possible. Presently, the Astronomical Observatory attracts a great number of fans of astronomy and natural sciences. The Astronomical Observatory has proved its contribution to the cultural life of the city of Zagreb by its traditional programs for citizens (lectures, observation of the sky and so on). In 1995 the e-school project in the area of natural sciences was initiated within the framework of the Croatian Natural Sciences Association. The area of astronomy within this project has been realized at the Astronomical Observatory. Depending on observational possibilities, the expert work is directed at regular observation of the activities of the Sun and some periodical astronomical phenomena. The scientific work is organized in the area of the physics of the Sun and relies on the international collaboration. In 1998 the Astronomical Observatory was awarded the State Prize for technical culture, “Faust Vrančić”. Dragan Roša