Hungarian Astronomical Association

The Hungarian Astronomical Association (Magyar Csillagászati Egyesület, MCSE) is Hungary's largest astronomy outreach association, bringing together amateur astronomers and professional astronomers around the promotion of astronomy. It was founded in 1946 by Dr. György Kulin, but was only permitted to operate for three years, until 1949. It was re-established on 19 February 1989, on the anniversary of Copernicus's birth, as the successor of the earlier organization, with its founders again greeted by Kulin György. The association is headquartered in Budapest but is active throughout the country through numerous local groups, and it also reaches Hungarian-speaking communities beyond the borders. The MCSE's mission, as set out in its statutes, is to popularize astronomy and support it as far as its means allow: it works to raise the social recognition of astronomy, popularizes results in astronomy and related sciences, supports astronomy education institutions, supports school and out-of-school astronomy teaching, and assists Hungarian amateur astronomers at home and abroad in carrying out valuable observations through professional and organizational activity as well as modern instruments and tools. It also promotes mutually beneficial cooperation between professional and amateur astronomers and, where possible, supports institutions and individuals engaged in astronomical research. The association's main decision-making body is the General Assembly, with the Presidency making key decisions between meetings and a Secretariat responsible for administration. It has a permanent Audit Committee, 13 specialist sections and 17 local groups. Officers are elected for four-year terms and may be re-elected. The association's president is its leader and its general secretary is its executive officer; between 1946 and 1949 the executive role was that of executive president, held by Dr. Kulin György. Honorary president is Aurél Ponori Thewrewk. Past presidents include Deák András (1946–1949), Krátky Antal (1949), Ponori Thewrewk Aurél (1989–2000), Balázs Béla (co-president, 1990–1992), Szabados László (2000–2004), Kolláth Zoltán (2004–2020), Kiss László (2020–2024) and Kereszturi Ákos (from 2024). General secretaries have included Kulin György (1946–1949), Zombori Ottó (1989–1990) and Mizser Attila (1990–2024). Members receive two publications as part of their membership: the amateur astronomy journal Meteor, launched in 1971, and the Meteor Csillagászati Évkönyv, which publishes astronomical articles, data and a calendar. The Amatörcsillagászok Kézikönyve (Amateur Astronomers' Handbook), which brings together amateur observations and scientific foundations and has gone through three editions in a few years, is the association's third best-known and highest-circulation publication. The association has also published numerous other books and booklets, primarily in the fields of variable star astronomy, the history of astronomy and the methodology of astronomical observation. The association's facilities include the Polaris Observatory in Óbuda, Budapest, which has been the centre of its activities since 2001 and hosts regular presentations, lectures, telescope-building advice and specialist clubs. It also operates Csillagtanya, its own observation site on a vineyard hill in Lovasberény at an altitude of 230 metres, acquired on 11 July 2019 for 12 million forints using the association's last financial reserves. The association has more than 5,000 members.

The Hungarian Astronomical Association (Magyar Csillagászati Egyesület, MCSE) was founded in 1946 by Dr. György Kulin, but it was only allowed to operate for three years, until 1949. During that first period, Deák András served as president (1946–1949) and Krátky Antal in 1949, while Dr. Kulin György was executive president (ügyvezető elnök). The association's activities were centred on the TIT Uránia Observatory on Gellért Hill in Budapest between 1947 and 1949. After four decades of interruption, the association was re-established on 19 February 1989, the anniversary of Copernicus's birth, as the legal successor of the earlier organization. Its founders were again greeted by Kulin György. In the re-established association, Ponori Thewrewk Aurél served as president from 1989 to 2000, with Balázs Béla as co-president from 1990 to 1992. Zombori Ottó was general secretary from 1989 to 1990, and Mizser Attila took over that role from 1990 until 2024. Between 1989 and 1990 the association's activities were again centred on the TIT Uránia Observatory on Gellért Hill. From 2001, the Óbuda Polaris Observatory became the centre of the association's activities. There, as at rural observatories operated by many local groups, regular presentations, lectures, telescope-building advice and specialist clubs are held for interested visitors. Szabados László served as president from 2000 to 2004, followed by Kolláth Zoltán, an astronomer and scientific advisor at the MTA KTM CSKI, from 2004 to 2020. Kiss László, director-general of the CSFK, was president from 2020 to 2024, and Kereszturi Ákos took over in 2024. The association has long wanted its own observation site from which the sky could still be observed relatively flawlessly and which would be easily accessible to members. The previous base, the Polaris Observatory, is located in a busy area of Budapest and, due to light pollution, is no longer suitable for observation. The goal was to find a location that could also host larger groups and hold educational sessions and events under quality conditions. The site was eventually found on a vineyard hill in Lovasberény at an altitude of 230 metres. On 11 July 2019, the association took possession of the property, purchased for 12 million forints using the association's last financial reserves. This became Csillagtanya. Throughout its history, the association has published materials for amateur astronomers. The amateur astronomy journal Meteor was launched in 1971, and members receive it along with the Meteor Csillagászati Évkönyv, which publishes astronomical articles, data and a calendar. The Amatörcsillagászok Kézikönyve, which brings together amateur observations and scientific foundations and has gone through three editions in a few years, is the association's third best-known and highest-circulation publication. The association has also published numerous other books and booklets, primarily in variable star astronomy, the history of astronomy and the methodology of astronomical observation. Today the association has more than 5,000 members and, in addition to astronomy outreach at home, it unites Hungarian amateur astronomers, publishes a journal, books and an astronomical yearbook, and its members give lectures and presentations throughout the country and beyond the borders.

• 2024

  Kereszturi Ákos becomes president.

• 2019

  Csillagtanya observation site acquired on 11 July for 12 million forints.

• 2001

  Óbuda Polaris Observatory becomes the centre of activities.

• 1989

  Re-established on 19 February, the anniversary of Copernicus's birth.

• 1971

  Meteor amateur astronomy journal launched.

• 1949

  Operations cease after three years.

• 1946

  Founded by Dr. György Kulin.

Hungary's largest astronomy outreach association, uniting amateur and professional astronomers and promoting astronomy education and observation nationwide.

• Meteor

  Amateur astronomy journal launched in 1971, received by members.

• Meteor Csillagászati Évkönyv

  Astronomical yearbook publishing articles, data and a calendar.

• Amatörcsillagászok Kézikönyve

  Amateur Astronomers' Handbook, three editions in a few years, the association's third best-known and highest-circulation publication.

1. 1MCSE – Magyar Csillagászati Egyesületmcse.hu
2. 2Hungarian Astronomical Association – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Magyar Csillagászati Egyesület – Wikipediahu.wikipedia.org