Jihlavská astronomická společnost

Jihlavská astronomická společnost, z. s. (Jihlava Astronomical Society) is a Czech non-governmental non-profit organization focused primarily on popularizing astronomy and related scientific fields. It was officially established on 20 February 2004 as a civic association and, following the New Civil Code, transformed into a registered association (zapsaný spolek) in 2014. Miloš Podařil has served as its chairman from the beginning. The society is a collective member of the Czech Astronomical Society (ČAS). Its main base of operations is the Gothic-Renaissance fortification tower of the Mother of God Gate (Brána Matky Boží) in Jihlava, from whose gallery it regularly holds public astronomical observations. It also organizes outreach lectures, an astronomy camp for children aged 10–17, an astronomy club for children aged 12–15 in cooperation with the Jihlava House of Children and Youth, and occasional off-site observations at events such as the Night of Scientists and Museum Night. The society uses several telescopes, the largest with a 305 mm mirror, and a special Lunt telescope for observing the Sun's chromosphere. It has long advocated for building a proper observatory in Jihlava, a city that remains one of the few regional capitals in the Czech Republic without one.

Jihlavská astronomická společnost was officially founded on 20 February 2004 as a civic association (občanské sdružení). From its inception, Miloš Podařil has led the organization as chairman. In 2014, in accordance with the New Civil Code, it transformed into a registered association (zapsaný spolek, z. s.). The society has been a collective member of the Czech Astronomical Society (ČAS) and works closely with the Vysočina branch of ČAS and the Vysočina Museum in Jihlava. Its main venue is the gallery of the Mother of God Gate tower in Jihlava, where it holds regular public observations. The society's astronomy camp began in 2004 as the Letní astronomické soustředění (LASO), held under the auspices of the Jihlava House of Children and Youth; since 2014 it has been organized exclusively by the society. The camp takes place at the Jihlava DDM base at Hájanka Černé lesy near Brtnice. Since 2004 the society has also sought to establish a proper observatory in Jihlava, launching several projects, including the comprehensive Vesmír Vysočiny project, which was cancelled by the regional government after the 2008 regional elections. As a result, Jihlava remains one of the few regional capitals in the Czech Republic without its own observatory.

• 2014

  Transformed into a registered association (z. s.) under the New Civil Code; astronomy camp organized exclusively by the society.

• 2008

  The Vesmír Vysočiny project was cancelled by the regional government after regional elections.

• 2004

  Officially founded as a civic association on 20 February.

• 2004

  First year of the astronomy camp, then called Letní astronomické soustředění (LASO).

Non-profit astronomical outreach organization; collective member of the Czech Astronomical Society.

• Public astronomical observations

  Regular observations from the gallery of the Mother of God Gate tower in Jihlava, using telescopes up to 305 mm and a Lunt solar telescope.

• Popular science lectures

  Organized in cooperation with the Vysočina branch of the Czech Astronomical Society and the Vysočina Museum Jihlava.

• Astronomický tábor (Astronomy Camp)

  Summer camp for children aged 10–17 focused on astronomy and related sciences, held at Hájanka Černé lesy near Brtnice.

• Astronomický kroužek (Astronomy Club)

  Club for children aged 12–15, co-organized with the Jihlava House of Children and Youth.

1. 1Jihlavská astronomická společnost, z. s. – official websitejiast.cz
2. 2Jihlavská astronomická společnost – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Jihlavská astronomická společnost – Czech Wikipediacs.wikipedia.org