The Star of the Milky Way

The Star of the Milky Way (Linnutee Täht) is awarded to a person or an institution who has been involved in the implementation of the European Space Education Resource Office ESERO activities and with that made a significant contribution to popularisation of natural and exact sciences through space studies.

1. The recognition will be issued by the University of Tartu, Tartu Observatory, within the framework of the ESERO Estonia project.
2. The Star of the Milky Way recognition is accompanied by a financial scholarship and glass souvenirs.
3. The costs related to the recognition, including the amount of the award, will be covered by the budget of the ESERO Estonia project.
4. A reasoned proposal for the recognition of a person or an institution with the recognition of the Star of the Milky Way can be submitted from 1 to 30 September via the form on the website of ESERO Estonia.
5. The Recognition is decided by the Estonian Steering Committee of ESERO.
6. No later than two weeks before the date of the award, the committee will present the name of the recipient of the award to the Director of the Tartu Observatory of the University of Tartu.
7. Recognition of the Milky Way Star can be obtained by a person or an institution only once.
8. The interview with the winner will be published on the website of the Tartu Observatory of the University of Tartu.
9. The Tartu Observatory of the University of Tartu announces the recipient of the recognition and delivers the recognition at a science communication conference organised by the Estonian Research Council.

The statute was approved by the Director of the Tartu Observatory of the University of Tartu on 20 February 2024.