International Meteor Conference

The annual conference of the International Meteor Organization (IMO) took place from 7th to 10th of June 2007 in France. Participants were 84 amateur meteor observers from a lot of European countries, as well as Canada and Japan.
Participants from Bulgaria were Valentin Velkov and Eva Bojurova from Astronomical Observatory N. Copernicus - Varna, together with the members of Astronomical Club Canopus Katya Koleva - an university student, former member of the astronomical circle led in Varna observatory with a long lasting experience in meteor observations and in training of new observers, Nikolay Kolov, Jelyo Jelev, Galina Gospodinova and Desislava Jivkova, high school students and also meteor observers.
Although in principle IMO is an amateur organization, the conference was held at a high almost professional level. Discussed were creating networks for multi-station video observations of meteors and calculating the orbital elements of meteor particles, new ways for obtaining of the parameters of meteoroids using data of radio and radar observations, and also applying new unusual methods of meteor observations - infrasonic observations, satellite observations and even observations of meteors on other planets in the Solar System.
The participants from Varna presented three posters about visual observations of June Bootids, Orionids, Eta Aquarids and Leonids. Especially discussed were our observations of June Bootids and of the unusual outburst of the Orionid activity recorded in 2006. Our poster about the June Bootids was provided to Mr. Masayuki Yamamoto of the Nippon Meteor Society, so that he could present it at the conference Meteoroids 2007 in Barcelona, which was to be held immediately after the International Meteor Conference in France.

New educationnal programme

This year, 2007, on 4th October, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the beggining of the cosmic era. On this purpose, the observatory begins a new educational programme: "The astronomy: yesterday, today and tommorow". This programme includes three projects, open for participation for the bulgarian, and why not, european students: "50 years cosmic era", "Inhabitants of distant worlds" and "New constellation - why not". Soon, a more detailed information will be released. The programme is co-ordianted by Eva Bojurova, Natasha Ivanova and Ivan Ivanov from the Observatory.

The Bulgarian participants on the IAO returned from Mumbay

This year's International Astronomy Olympiad took place in Mumbay, India, from 10th to 19th November. The Bulgarian participants had a numbers of awards: Ignat Kalinov, from Pleven, obtained First-Degree Diploma, Alexandar Kurtenkov, from Plovdiv, obtained Second-Degree Diploma, Kiril Borisov from Pleven - Second-Degree Diploma and Diploma for Best Performance in the Observation Round. The team was led by Eva Bojurova, from the Observatory, and Natasha Minkova from Mathematical high-school "Geo Milev" - Pleven. The official press-release of the hosts can be found here

Spaceflight day in the Observatory

On 8th October 2006 we celebrated the 56th anniversary of the lauching of Sputnik 1, the first artificial sattelite of the Earth. On this occasion, the Observatory organized a kinderparty. In the event participated children from different schools and kindergartens in Varna. The children participated in a celestial voyage in the planetarium, made paper rockets and participated in competition for space pictures. The young participants were dressed like, robots, extra-terrestrials, astronauts.

Young astronomers participated in science theatre

Young astronomers from different schools in Varna, participated in the Science Theatre in Strasbourg, France. The event is part of the programme "Youth, Science, Innovation" of European Union. The young people presented "Restaurant at the end of the Universe" - humouristic theatral show, based on the Douglas Adams' book, with physical expreriments and interesting facts. The show was directed by Tanya Guncheva, from "Arlekin" theatral studio, based on the script written by Eva Bojurova from the observatory.

Beginning of the school year

Soon, the school year will begin again.

In the summer, the Observatory participated in a number of astronomical events:

-Students from the observatory participated in the traditional "Belite brezi" summer school, held by the Astronomical observatory "Slavey Zlatev" in Kardjali. The group was led by Valentin Velkov from the Observatory.

-A mountain expedition with observation of meteors from the Rozhen National Observatory was also held. The group was led by Eva Bojurova and Valentin Velkov from the observatory.

-Training school for very young astronomy lovers in Yastrebino. The group was led by Natasha Ivanova and Eva Bojurova from the Observatory.

-Under the direction of Eva Bojurova and Alexey Stoev(Stara-Zagora Observatory) took place the control tour for selecting, between the this year's National Olympiad laureates, the Bulgarian representatives on the International Astronomy Olympiad

Astronomical holiday

On 22th May we celebrate 38th anniversary of the Observatory. For this occasion, a special event will be hold in the Big hall, the astronomers will give lectures and the student will show presentations, including photos from the Solar Eclipse expedition to Turkey in March.

Successful observation of the Total Solar Eclipse

The total solar eclipse on 29th March was successfully observed by the members of the astronomical club CANOPUS in Manavgat, Turkey. Fortunately, the sky was clear all along the eclipse.

Eva Bojurova tells, from Turkey, that apart the solar corona, an unusual halo was observed around the Sun, which appereance coincided with the eclipse.

In the photo-gallery of the astronomical club Canopus you can see some images, taken by various members of the club during the expedition to Turkey.

The scientific and educational programme of the eclipse was directed by Eva Bojurova, physicist-astronomer from the Observatory.

All the Bulgarian participants with prizes at the IAO

All the participants of the Bulgarian team had prizes at the International Astronomy Olympiad. Ignat Kalinov, from the town of Pleven, was awarded with First Degree Diploma (Gold medal) and Diploma for excellence at the observational round. Alexander Kurtenkov from Plovdiv had Second Degree Diploma (Silver Medal). The other participants had all Third Degree Diplomae: Alexandra Georgieva from Sofia, Rossita Kokotanekova from Haskovo, Kiril Borissov from Pleven and Nelly Ivanova from Pleven. The team was led by Eva Bojurova, astronomer from Varna Observatory and Alexey Stoev, astronomer and director of Stara Zagora Observatory.

Alumni of the Observatory awarded with European prize

An alumni of the Varna Observatory, Petar Todorov, was awarded with the Special Prize of the European Southern Observatory at the 17th European Union Contest for Young Scientists in Moscow, Russia. Petar will visit the observatories ESO La Silla and ESO Paranal in Chile. The project presented by Petar in Moscow was "The variable star RZ Cassiopeiae. Investigation of the third companion hypothesis". Petar has worked under the supervision of Eva Bojurova, astronomer at the observatory. Here is an official press-release of the European Commission.


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Nikolay Petrov - honorary citizen of Varna

Within the festival of the town of Varna, August 15th, the first director of the astronomical observatory "Nicolaus Copernicus" Mr. Nicolay PETROV was rewarded with the medal "Honorary Citizen of the town of Varna". The ceremony took place in the Summer Theatre in the maritime garden of the town. The key of the town and the Medal of honor were bestowed to Mr. Petrov by Mr. Kiril Yordanov, mayor of Varna. Mr. Petrov was honoured with the medal because of "his attention to the problems of the youth education in the town, the creation of the astronomy amateur movement in the town and the country".

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