| |
Among the three oldest Polish astronomical
observatories belonging to the universities in Vilna,
Cracow and Warsaw, the Cracow University Observatory was
fortunately able to act continuously since the year of
its foundation (1791-1792) until present. Also in
Cracow the longest in Poland, unbroken series of
meteorological observations has been recorded and
preserved. However, the beginning of the institution was
rather difficult. The idea of setting up the astronomical
observatory in Cracow did not find there, in the first
half of 18th century, a favorable atmosphere. The
excellent astronomical traditions of the Cracow Academy,
dating back to the 15th century (cf. H. Schedel, Liber
Chronicarum, Nürnberg, 1493), were then forgotten.
Moreover, the further progress in astronomy was not
followed there. At the Cracow University the heliocentric
theory of Copernicus, its most prominent student, was not
accepted and the syllabus including the lectures on astronomy
according to Ptolemy and Peuerbach was obligatory till
1750 AD and later on.
|
