Support building Kosovo's first observatory!

Our plans to build the first observatory and planetarium in Kosovo have run into an impasse, and the board of directors of Astronomy Outreach of Kosovo (AOK) has decided that the only way forward is to finish the project with private donations. This has impelled us to seek your support.

Although we received parliamentary authorization for the observatory last year, the funds were never released. This was despite numerous inquiries and protests. The future of Kosovo is dependent on the technical competence of its youth. Expertise in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) topics will play a key role in Kosovo’s ability to be economically competitive. Instilling these interests has been AOK’s objective ever since its founding in 2015, but sadly the country has committed few monies to STEM education.

However, we have seen from our own outreach efforts that this situation can be remedied. The public interactions that we’ve organized have clearly succeeded in interesting young people in STEM topics. Such interactions are tools for ensuring an educated populace – one that will promote the economic development of the country. AOK seeks to greatly enhance its work by building an observatory and planetarium that is accessible to the public. This facility will be similar to those in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Europe. Its effect is largely predictable: We note that many professional astronomers say that they first developed an interest in that discipline after visiting a planetarium or by looking through a telescope. This sort of outcome is what motivates the AOK initiative. Much equipment and several other services have already been donated to the project. These include property for the observatory (from Prof. Miliam Rushiti); access road construction (from the Turkish KFOR); a C14 Edge telescope (from Celestron) and; a computer and sound system suitable for the planetarium (from Jack Dunn and Hap Griffin).

While extremely helpful, these contributions are not enough. We still need a building and dome, and these cannot be realized without financial contributions. We estimate that $230,000 will pay for the construction.

We hope that, appreciating the long-term benefits of this project, you will continue your generous support. We are working towards a better future for our youth, and our country.