News

Registration is open for 11 courses by Tartu Observatory this spring semester. The registration closes after February 7, 2020. Most of the courses welcome students of all majors. Some of them, however, might have advisory pre-courses. Take a look at all the courses that Tartu Observatory offers this spring semester!

Yesterday, members of the Rector’s Office discussed the organisation of teaching and studies in February and March, and decided that in both months, teaching will be largely conducted online. However, we are trying to gradually move towards greater openness. We make decisions about teaching and studies in the spring semester for one month at a time – for each month, by the middle of the previous month. The rector’s decree with more detailed guidelines will take effect after passing the bylaw approval process.

This week, the Digital Cleanup Week takes place at the university. Its aim is to declutter one’s personal or the unit’s digital life, and move in small but effective steps towards a greener university. The Digital CleanUp Week ends on 29 January, the nationwide Digital Cleanup Day.

Estonia, together with the BalticSatApps project member states, highlighted the possibilities of using free satellite data in the development of innovative services and products. Earth observation satellite data is available to everyone and anyone can get information on, for example, climate change or urban development. However, in service and product development, this data is still underused.

Due to the state of emergency declared by the government of Estonia, the University of Tartu cancels face-to-face classes from today to 1 May 2020. Instead, e-learning and other forms of distance learning will be used. Students who stay in residence halls are recommended to return home, if possible.

The University of Tartu Mentoring Programme is open for applications. The programme, created for the students and alumni of the University of Tartu, was first introduced in 2017 and is now for the first time also available for international students and alumni.

Aune Valk, University of Tartu Vice Rector for Academic Affairs

Estonian company Crystalspace, partnered with Tartu Observatory of Tartu University and Krakul, has been selected by Maxar Technologies, a trusted partner and innovator in Earth Intelligence and Space Infrastructure, to build two cameras that will act as a stereo pair to monitor the operations of a robotic arm that will collect regolith samples from the Moon.

After having received the regulation of the government of Estonia, and discussing with the Rector’s Office the exceptional situations in which it is very difficult to apply distance learning, we now add more detailed information to the message sent on Wednesday. These guidelines will be in force until the beginning of the spring semester.

In the newly published ranking list of universities from emerging Europe and Central Asia, the University of Tartu has reached the second place, which is also the highest among Estonian universities.

The government of Estonia decided today that as of 14 December, all educational institutions, including universities, will be closed. Therefore, the university leaders decided that no classroom studies are conducted at the University of Tartu at least until the spring semester.

Viljo Allik, Chief Engineer of the Tartu Observatory, and researcher Tõnis Eenmäe achieved a connection to satellites Koit (Dusk) and Hämarik (Dawn) in cooperation with TalTech's software specialist. Koit had been orbiting in silence for almost a year and a half. Hämarik joined Koit in September this year.

On Tuesday, 1 December, the university members celebrate the 101st anniversary of Estonia's national university.

So far, the university has favoured preferring face-to-face learning to distance learning. However, as the coronavirus infection rate is increasing, the Rector’s Office decided at its today’s meeting that it is reasonable to rapidly reorganise studies wherever possible to safeguard the health of all university members.

View the video address of Rector Toomas Asser focusing on coronavirus prevention at the university on UTTV and read revised coronavirus guidelines at the university. This week the Government of Estonia announced new coronavirus measures and based on the government’s recommendations, members of the UT Rector’s Office have laid down the following guidelines.

European Space Agency (ESA) has adopted the Ariel space mission, which includes Tartu Observatory's Stellar Physics Group as part of the science team. The mission will be the first to research a thousand exoplanets, trying to understand their formation and chances of hosting life.

Currently, remote sensing data makes itself useful to farmers by helping detect problem areas on the field. However, satellite, drone and radar data offer many more innovative ways to make the life of farmers easier and faster. Current and future opportunities were discussed at the seminar about remote sensing applications in agriculture, organized within the "RITA" remote sensing project on November 11.

The University of Tartu announces a design contest to find a mascot to represent the university’s visual identity. All students, staff and alumni of the university are welcome to submit their design projects until 22 November. The winner will be selected in two rounds: in the first round, a committee comprising the representatives of students, alumni and staff will choose three best projects that will be put to a public vote in the second round. The public vote among students, alumni and staff of the University of Tartu takes place in December.

In the beginning of November, the University of Tartu announced the recipients of its decorations. Among them are five employees of Tartu Observatory, who were awarded with the University of Tartu Badge of Distinction. The recipients are

On 30 October, the University of Tartu Senate decided to award the Johan Skytte Medal to the President of the Republic of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid. The highest award for university members, the University of Tartu Grand Medal, will be given to four long-term high-calibre researchers. Also, the recipients of the University of Tartu Star of Appreciation, Medal, Badge of Distinction and the decoration “100 Semesters at the University of Tartu” have been selected.