History and previous conventions

History

Although the idea of establishing a society of professional astronomers first emerged during the 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 the 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. This coincided with moving the Society's headquarters from Wrocław to Warsaw (1954).

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 2017, thirty eight PTA conventions have taken place.

PTA's conventions:

 

No Date Venue Elected President
1 19-20 II 1923 Toruń Tadeusz Banachiewicz
2 11 IX 1930 Warszawa Władysław Dziewulski
2a 29-31 VIII 1934 Warszawa Edward Warchałowski
3 10-11 X 1948 Wrocław Eugeniusz Rybka
4 X 1950 Poznań Józef Witkowski
5 16-17 XII 1952 Warszawa Włodzimierz Zonn
6 1 VII 1954 Suwałki Włodzimierz Zonn
7 14-16 XII 1955 Poznań Włodzimierz Zonn
8 16 XII 1956 Wrocław Stefan Piotrowski
9 25-27 VI 1959 Wrocław Antoni Opolski
10 14-16 IX 1961 Warszawa Antoni Opolski
11 19-21 IX 1963 Toruń Włodzimierz Zonn
12 10-13 IX 1965 Olsztyn Włodzimierz Zonn
13 26-28 X 1967 Wrocław Włodzimierz Zonn
14 24-27 IX 1969 Chorzów/Jaszowiec Włodzimierz Zonn
15 06-09 IX 1971 Poznań/Kórnik Włodzimierz Zonn
16 12-15 II 1973 Chorzów Włodzimierz Zonn
17 16-19 IX 1975 Gdańsk Jerzy Stodółkiewicz
18 20-23 IX 1977 Kortowo/Olsztyn Jerzy Stodółkiewicz
19 24-27 IX 1979 Warszawa Jerzy Stodółkiewicz
20 15-18 IX 1981 Kraków/Wieliczka Jerzy Stodółkiewicz
21 20-23 IX 1983 Frombork Jerzy Stodółkiewicz
22 17-20 IX 1985 Wrocław Jerzy Stodółkiewicz
23 16-19 IX 1987 Gdańsk Jerzy Stodółkiewicz
24 19-22 IX 1989 Bachotek/Toruń Robert Głębocki
25 10-13 IX 1991 Kraków Robert Głębocki
26 21-23 IX 1993 Warszawa Robert Głębocki
27 12-15 IX 1995 Poznań Jerzy Marek Kreiner
28 09-12 IX 1997 Zielona Góra Jerzy Marek Kreiner
29 13-16 IX 1999 Olsztyn Andrzej Woszczyk
30 10-13 IX 2001 Kraków Andrzej Woszczyk
31 08-12 IX 2003 Toruń Andrzej Woszczyk
32 19-23 IX 2005 Wrocław Andrzej Woszczyk
33 17-21 IX 2007 Kielce Edwin Wnuk
34 14-18 IX 2009 Kraków Edwin Wnuk
35 11-15 IX 2011 Gdańsk Bożena Czerny
36 11-14 IX 2013 Warszawa Agnieszka Kryszczyńska
37 07-10 IX 2015 Poznań Agnieszka Kryszczyńska
38 11-14 IX 2017 Zielona Góra Marek Sarna
39 08-12 IX 2019 Olsztyn Marek Sarna (continuation)