Astronomy in Serbia

Astronomy in Serbia is developed in accordance with the country's economic capabilities, or even slightly above them[1]. Astronomical Observatory Belgrade (on Zvezdara), founded in 1887, is one of the oldest scientific institutions in Serbia[1]. Serbia is a member of the International Astronomical Union since 1935[1].

Astronomical Observatory Belgrade remains the only professional observatory in Serbia[1]. The observatory has eight professional telescopes, and is currently completing a new station on the mountain Vidojevica near Prokuplje[1]. There are also several smaller public and university observatories: the Public Observatory in Belgrade, Novi Sad Astronomical Observatory[2] and Belerofont Observatory in Kragujevac.[3] There are two planetariums: in Belgrade and Novi Sad.

Astronomy is taught in primary and secondary schools, but only as a part of other courses[1]. Of great importance in teaching of astronomy is the Petnica Science Center[1]. Five universities in Serbia offer the studies of astronomy: universities of Belgrade, Novi Sad, Kragujevac, Niš and Priština[1]. From these, at the University of Belgrade have so far graduated 242 astronomers, and 6 astronomers at the Novi Sad; 4 more astronomers who have graduated abroad are working in Serbia[1].

Several journals devoted to astronomy are published: Astronomija[4], (discontinued since 2009), Vasiona and others[1]. Also, since 1936, a scientific journal, Serbian Astronomical Journal is published[1][5].

In Serbia there are 17[1] associations of amateur astronomers, the oldest[1][6] of which is Astronomical Society Ruđer Bošković.

See also

References