Society and culture: Astronomic photos, exhibitions and books from the collection of the Polytechnic Museum are presented at the exhibition in Moscow

The Polytechnic Museum together with the Greenwich Royal Observatory presents the exhibition "Astronomical Photographer of the Year" at the VDNKh in Moscow. Planets, constellations and nebulae through the eyes of photographers from around the world". The exhibition, timed to the contest "Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year", shows astronomical photographs, exhibits of the Polytechnic Museum and books from the collection of the library of the Polytechnic Museum.

A person has always wanted to draw near to himself distant cosmic objects, to see the hidden distance. Every year, the Greenwich Royal Observatory offers astrophotographers from around the world to send their best pictures, which can become part of the competition of the Royal Observatory "Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year". In 2016, the Observatory received over 4,500 applications from more than 80 countries. The images depict all sorts of cosmic objects (stars, planets, galaxies, nebulae) and significant astronomical events of the past year. Applications were divided into eight thematic nominations and one additional nomination for participants under 16 years of age. As a result of the competition, 31 prizewinners were selected. Photos-winners can be seen at the exhibition of the Polytechnic Museum at VDNH.

In addition to them, the exhibition presents items from the museum's collection, which at different times allowed humanity to be closer to distant cosmic objects: telescopes and astronomical instruments.

At the exhibition in the pavilion of the Polytechnic Museum at VDNH you can get acquainted with books from the library of the museum. Among other things, you can see "The Atlas of the Starry Skies" by Jan Hevelius. The book contains brief information about the Samarkand Observatory of the XV century. And its head - the famous Uzbek astronomer Ulugbek. The edition completely reproduces the Atlas of the starry sky, compiled in the XVII century. The outstanding Polish astronomer Jan Gevely, one of the first European scientists to place the star catalog of Ulugbek in his treatise. In addition, you can see the "Atlas of the Starry Sky" of the Russian astronomer and former director of the Pulkovo Observatory Alexander Alexandrovich Mikhailov. His atlas, which is considered to be one of the most complete, consists of 20 maps covering the whole sky - from the north to the South Pole. The maps depict over 8500 stars - more than you can see with naked eye.