The 2024/2025 stargazing season at the University of Latvia (UL) Astronomical Tower has come to a close. This season marked not only a special anniversary - 155 years since the tower began operations in 1869 - but also set a historic record for attendance. A total of 914 space enthusiasts climbed to the highest point of UL and gazed at the stars, which is three times the average number of visitors in recent years.
The primary reason behind this record-breaking attendance was the enormous public interest in the Tsuchinshan–ATLAS comet (C/2023 A3), which received significant media attention.
Unfortunately, variable weather conditions prevented many from seeing the comet with their own eyes, but this did not reduce the flow of visitors. Another peak in interest came in January and February, when the clear night skies offered great visibility of planets. People were also drawn by a penumbral lunar eclipse and the simple joy of viewing stars through the telescope’s magnification.
Historically, the UL Tower served both as a study site for students and a research facility for astronomers. Today, stars are most frequently observed by UL staff and students. Since 1986, it has operated as a public observatory, offering demonstrations of the starry sky to anyone interested.
Researchers have observed a rise in interest among international students studying at UL. This season, most visitors from outside the university community were families with children and seniors, many of whom came with their grandchildren. There were also occasions when visiting the UL Tower was part of a birthday celebration—"but planning such a festive activity around Latvia’s unpredictable weather is not always easy," notes the tower’s staff.
The enriching and educational experience at the UL Tower is made possible by members of the Latvian Astronomical Society (LAS), amateur astronomers Vitālijs Kuzmovs and Mārtiņš Keruss, volunteer university students, and LAS Chairman Māris Krastiņš.
The tower continues to attract public attention even after the season has ended. Responding to this great interest, UL plans to continue and further develop astronomical observations.
To improve observation quality, a fundraising campaign has been launched with support from the UL Foundation to purchase a new telescope. Its inauguration is scheduled for the next stargazing season in October, when all those who missed out this time will be invited to visit the UL Astronomical Tower.