Tatra Astro Summit 2026

2026 October 5-9 * Stará Lesná, Slovakia

group_photo_tas25

Location

The TATRA ASTRO SUMMIT 2026 will take place in the High Tatras, specifically in Stará Lesná, not far from the major tourist center Tatranská Lomnica. The Tatra moutains are the highest part of the Carpathian mountain range, with the highest peak Gerlachovský štít (altitude 2655 meters above the sea level). With the total area of 785 sq. kilometer (length of about 50 km, width of 20 km), the Tatra mountains belong to the most compact mountain ranges with an alpine character. They form a natural border between Slovakia and Poland. The protection of the unique fauna and flora is ensured by the Tatra Mountain National Park (TANAP), which was established on January 1st, 1949, and it is the oldest Slovak national park.



In the image below, you can see the Skalnaté pleso observatory (left panel; altitude: 1751 m) and one of the coronographs on the Lomnicky Peak (right panel; altitude: 2634 m).

observatory coronograph

Venue

The meeting will take on the premises of the Astronomical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences in Stará Lesná, which is located in the direct vicinity of the Tatra mountain range with an exquisite view towards the Lomnický peak (2634 meters above the sea level), the second highest peak of the mountain range. The institute was established in 1943, during the Second World War, when the Skalnaté pleso Observatory was finished. Its construction was achieved mainly thanks to the efforts of a Czech astronomer and climatologist Antonín Bečvář, who became the first director of the Astronomical Institute. He also discovered a couple of comets, led the observations of the Ursid meteoric shower, and constructed the world-famous detailed celestial map Atlas Coeli Skalnaté pleso (1948) and three other maps. In 1953 the Astronomical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences was established. In 1962 the Lomnický peak observatory was finished, which was equipped with the 20cm coronograph. The second coronograph was added in 1970.


The main building of the Astronomical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences where the TATRA ASTRO SUMMIT 2026 (conference part) is going to take place.

building

Travel

The venue at the Astronomical Institute in the High Tatras can easily be reached via the D1 highway by car or by train from Bratislava or Košice with one change in Poprad to Tatranská Lomnica. For connections, please search the portal of Slovak railways. In case of travelling from Brno or Prague, you can search the train connections via the Czech railways portal. For the train connections across Poland to the Tatra mountain region, please consult the Polish railway website for the train connections to Zakopane. From Zakopane local bus or taxi connections to Tatranská Lomnica should be available.

Accommodation

You can search for convenient hotels in Stará Lesná and Tatranská Lomnica at booking.com or at airbnb. Comfortable nearby options are the Kontakt Wellness hotel, Hotel Lesná, and many others located in the close vicinity of the Astronomical Institute.

Free-time activities

There is plenty to do in the High Tatras. From long-day hiking in glacier-carved U-shaped valleys to sharp rocky peaks at the top, nobody gets bored. For tips and suggestions, you may consult the official tourist website. We will prepare hiking trails of a different difficulty. In case of a bad weather, we will organize trips to the nearby museums, castles, and caves.

Free time

Keynote talks

To be updated soon

Program (download a program)

October 5 - Monday

Individual discussions, synergies between stellar physics, high-energy astropysics phenomena, and instrumentation
Welcome drink/dinner (19:00)

October 6 - Tuesday

Scientific Program - Day 1 (9:45 - 17:00)

October 7 - Wednesday

Scientific Program - Day 2 (9:45 - 17:00)

October 8 - Thursday

During this day there is a possibility to visit relevant astronomical sites with instruments in Stará Lesná, Skalnaté Pleso, and Lomnický peak.
Optional program: Individual discussions, synergies between stellar physics, high-energy astropysics phenomena, and instrumentation

October 9 - Friday

Individual discussions, synergies between stellar physics, high-energy astropysics phenomena, and instrumentation

Participants

  1. Michal Zajaček, Masaryk University
  2. Petr Kurfürst, Masaryk University
  3. Patrik Čechvala, Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences
  4. Natalia Shagatova, Astronomical Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences
  5. Congyao Zhang, Masaryk University
  6. Jan Budaj, Astronomical Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences
  7. Luboš Neslušan, Astronomical Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences
  8. Július Koza, Astronomical Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences
  9. Jakub Gazdoš, Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences
  10. Sergo Lomineishvili, Astronomical Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences
  11. Jiří Blažek, Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences
  12. Hana Kučáková, Institute of Physics, Silesian University in Opava
  13. Valentina Rosa, Astronomical Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences
  14. Vladimír Karas, Astronomical Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences
  15. Olga Vozyakova, Institute of Physics, Faculty of Science, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice
  16. Reddy Charan Reddy Munagala, Astronomical Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences
  17. Tomáš Šoltinský, INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste
  18. Tomáš Ondro, Mendel University in Brno
  19. Alex C. Gormaz-Matamala, Astronomical Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences
  20. Srija Reddy Muthyala, Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences
  21. Shefali Negi, Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences

Scientific and Local Organizing Committees

The meeting program and management are coordinated by the Organizing Committee:
  • Michal Zajaček (Masaryk University)
  • Patrik Čechvala (Institute of Physics, Czech Academy of Sciences)
  • Natalia Shagatova (Astronomical Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences)
  • Tomáš Ondro (Mendel University)
  • Václav Glos (Masaryk University)
  • Samik Mitra (International Center for Theoretical Sciences, India)

The local organisation is supported by the team at the Astronomical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences led by Natalia Shagatova.

Registration

Please register your participation/contribution using THIS FORM.

Registration deadline September 30, 2026.

Location

Astronomical Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences

Tatranská Lomnica, 059 60 Vysoké Tatry, Slovakia

</> with ♥ by Michal & Jean-Paul