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Top Summer Experience in Estonia
An active space hub in the middle of nature.
Tartu Observatory: a launchpad of ideas Nestled in the lush forests of southern Estonia, Tartu Observatory is a regional hub for space science and education. Fuelled by curiosity and enthusiasm, it’s also home to one of the largest optical telescopes in northern Europe and is a renowned contributor to a galaxy of space-related endeavours. By Emma Rodin
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Photos: Tartu Observatory
Tartu Observatory, an off-campus institute of the University of Tartu is located in the small village of Tõravere and is a long-standing institute focused on space-related research and development. As a unique asset, Tartu Observatory has accredited test laboratories where companies and research groups can test their equipment in different environmental conditions. “We can conduct the full set of tests needed to send a small satellite or satellite component to space,” explains Antti Tamm, director and associate professor at the observatory. Across Europe, Tartu Observatory is a valuable partner 76 | Issue 167 |
June 2024
for calibrating and characterising optical devices, especially for remote-sensing applications. Then and now: a rich heritage The history of Tartu Observatory goes back to the early 19th century when the Tartu Old Observatory (Tartu Tähetorn) was built. From there, astronomer F. G. W. Struve conducted one of the first measurements of the distance of a star (Vega) and carried out a massive project to determine the shape and size of the globe. The resultant geodetic arc of nearly 3,000 kilometres of triangulation
measurements is featured on UNESCO’s World Heritage list. In the mid-20th century, most of the observatory’s research work moved to the brand-new Tõravere observatory. Here, scientists led by astrophysicist Jaan Einasto discovered the honeycomb-like structure of the universe and were among the pioneers of the concept of dark matter – a form of matter still not fully understood. Today, the observatory’s mission stems from its growth plan to contribute to
Pupils soldering during space career day.