Višnjan Observatory ( hr, Zvjezdarnica Višnjan; obs. code: 120) is an astronomical

observatory An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial, marine, or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geophysical, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed. His ...

located near the village of

Višnjan Višnjan ( it, Visignano) is a village and municipality in Istria, Croatia. Višnjan is the site of Višnjan Observatory (an astronomical observatory). The observatory is home of several long-running international summer programs for youth in astr ...

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

. It is headed by

Korado Korlević Korado Korlević (born on 19 September 1958 in Poreč) is a Croatian teacher and prolific amateur astronomer, who ranks among the world's top 20 discoverers of minor planets. As of 2016, he is credited by the Minor Planet Center with the discover ...

, a prolific astronomer and

discoverer of minor planets This is a list of minor-planet discoverers credited by the Minor Planet Center with the discovery of one or several minor planets (such as near-Earth and main-belt asteroids, Jupiter trojans and distant objects). , the discovery of 612,011 numb ...

. In 2009, the Višnjan observatory moved to Tičan (at ) and received the obs. code L01 on 5 October 2017 ().

Description

Višnjan Observatory was founded in 1992, as a

public observatory A public observatory is an astronomical observatory mainly dedicated to public and educational purposes. It is often supported by a municipality, a school or an astronomical society. The primary purpose of public observatories is to offer exte ...

. It worked in the field of

astrometry Astrometry is a branch of astronomy that involves precise measurements of the positions and movements of stars and other celestial bodies. It provides the kinematics and physical origin of the Solar System and this galaxy, the Milky Way. His ...

and search of a new

asteroid An asteroid is a minor planet of the inner Solar System. Sizes and shapes of asteroids vary significantly, ranging from 1-meter rocks to a dwarf planet almost 1000 km in diameter; they are rocky, metallic or icy bodies with no atmosphere. ...

s. Increasing

light pollution Light pollution is the presence of unwanted, inappropriate, or excessive use of artificial Visible spectrum, lighting. In a descriptive sense, the term ''light pollution'' refers to the effects of any poorly implemented lighting, during the day ...

made the observations in Višnjan difficult, and they stopped in 2001. In 2009, a new building of the observatory was opened near the village of Tičan, approximately 2.5 kilometers away. According to the statistic on observatory's website (Višnjan and Tičan) as of 2016, a total of 1420

s and 2

comet A comet is an icy, small Solar System body that, when passing close to the Sun, warms and begins to release gases, a process that is called outgassing. This produces a visible atmosphere or coma, and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena ar ...

s have been discovered at the observatory, which uses 11 telescopes and has a staff of 78 members and volunteers. The

Minor Planet Center The Minor Planet Center (MPC) is the official body for observing and reporting on minor planets under the auspices of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Founded in 1947, it operates at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Function ...

(MPC) directly credits the Višnjan Observatory with the discovery of 108 minor planets ''(see list below)'', while 1294 discoveries are credited to Korado Korlević. (The observatory's statistic may also include unnumbered minor planets for which the MPC does not assign a discoverer.) The observatory is home of several summer programs for youth in astronomy, archeology, marine biology and other disciplines
Youth Science CampSummer School of Science
an
Višnjan School of Astronomy

List of discovered minor planets

References

External links

* * http://www.en.sci.hr/ {{DEFAULTSORT:Visnjan Observatory Astronomical observatories in Croatia Buildings and structures in Istria County * Minor-planet discovering observatories

Description

List of discovered minor planets

See also

References

External links