History

Although the idea of establishing a society of professional astronomers first emerged during a 1920 National Scientific Convention in Warsaw, it was not until February 19, 1923, that the Polish Astronomical Society was officially established in Torun, which coincided with 450th anniversary of Nicolaus Copernicus's birthday. Delegates to the convention mostly discussed the challenges that Polish science was facing in the wake of the country's newly regained independence.

In the inter-war period the Society was able to obtain resources to start publishing of the first nationwide scientific journal, ''Acta Astronomica''. Its first issue appeared in 1929 and the journal has been published continuously up to the present day (though currently no longer under the auspices of the Society). Acta Astronomica's founder and first chief editor was professor Tadeusz Banachiewicz, long-time PTA's president and a director of the Astronomical Observatory in Cracow.

In 1948 in Wrocław, the first Convention of Polish Astronomers after the Second World War took place. The goal was to reactivate the Society and share the experiences of research carried out during the war period. At the same time, due steps were taken to officially register the Society. The official registration petition was submitted in 1949, however, it was only in 1955 when the petition was finally approved by the National Cabinet Committee. It was also at that time (1954) when the Society's headquarters was moved from Wroclaw to Warsaw. .
On March 20, 1957, the Polish Academy of Sciences started its cooperation with PTA, committing itself to financing the Society's activities.

The primary PTA's activities are its biennial conventions, during which scientific accomplishments of Polish astronomers are presented. A current state of affairs in Polish astronomy is analyzed, which enables coordination of scientific and organizational activities statewide. Between 1923 and 2007, thirty three PTA's conventions have taken place.

PTA's conventions: