Astronomy Day (Dzień Astronomii) is an international event designed to celebrate all facets of astronomy.  It is observed twice a year both in spring (May 15th) and fall (October 9th).

Image by Comfreak from Pixabay

Astronomy (astronomia) is a natural science that has always been present in human history. Our ancestors looked at the sky, curious about what was beyond our planet with the same fervor (zapał) as we do today.

While many different cultures around the world made great advances in astronomy, Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus (Mikołaj Kopernik) is probably the most famous out of all. The father of modern astronomy, he was the first modern European scientist to propose that Earth and other planets revolve around the sun. This was a truly revolutionary idea, since it was widely believed by many astronomers and religions that the earth (ziemia) was the center of the universe. Kopernik challenged this theory and proposed that humanity was only a part of a much more complex system of space and time.

Nicolaus Copernicus Monument in Toruń, Poland. Image by Mateusz_foto from Pixabay

He was born on February 19th, 1473, in Toruń, a city in north-central Poland on the Vistula River.

Kopernik was a mathematician (matematyk), astronomer (astronom), physician (lekarz), classical scholar (klasyczny uczony), translator (tłumacz), artist (artysta), Catholic cleric (duchowny katolicki),quadrilingual polyglot (czterojęzyczny poliglota), governor (gubernator), jurist (prawnik), military leader (dowódca wojskowy), diplomat (dyplomata) and economist (ekonomista). Wow!!! Among all of these, astronomy figured as little more than an avocation and it was that field that he made his mark upon the world.

Interesting fact: Poland celebrates Polish Science Day on February 19th. The date of the annual celebrations is the birthday of Nicolaus Copernicus, in appreciation for his outstanding achievements in astronomy.

Stargazing. Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

On Astronomy Day local astronomical societies, planetariums, museums, observatories, etc. around the world will be sponsoring public viewing sessions, presentations, workshops, and other activities to increase public awareness about astronomy and our wonderful universe

Check out this website to read more about astronomy in Poland. If you know of any interesting astronomy events near you, please share the info with all of us in comments below.