Senajai Vilniaus astronomijos observatorijai 250 metų

Abstract

The article is dedicated to Vilnius observatory, one of the oldest in Europe, in commemoration of its 250th anniversary. The observatory, as an important scholarly centre, played and continues to play a leading role in Lithuania's scientific life. Astronomy had been taught at Vilnius University long before the observatory was founded there in 1753. Professor of sciences T. Zebrowski (1714-1758), J. Stepling's pupil, was both the architect and constructor of the observatory. Its history witnessed the work of nine directors, and each of them was noted and responsible for an important stage in the observatory's development. The article also reviews the development of astronomical instruments, applied methods of observation, the most notable results in the context of worldwide achievements. Even after Vilnius University had been closed, the observatory functioned independently (till 1882) as the main branch of Pulkov's observatory. The article also presents some facts about the fate of its instruments and specialized literature after the latter had been distributed among various scientific and educational institutions of the Russian Empire.