Latvian team was warmly welcomed by director of Toruń Centre for Astronomy – Andrei Marecky (Andrzej Marecki). On the first day of the visit, Latvian astronomers introduced Polish colleagues with their achievements and current technical condition of VIRAC, in particular, the cosmic mower (māzeri) observations in Irbene with VIRAC radio telescopes RT-32 and RT-16, as well as an overview of the general observation programs.

Latvian astronomers were given the opportunity to see in detail the 32-metre antenna RT-4 of Toruń Centre for Astronomy and its operations, starting from observation planning and data capture till data logging and processing. Particular interest was given to the practical and innovative technical solutions developed in Toruń, for example, the high-precision time signal transmission in long-distance using distributed optic fiber channel. In the centre’s laboratory astronomers had a chance to get acquainted with built and upgraded units of radio receiving equipment, including the efficiently provided laboratory equipment.

In total, four working days were devoted to discussions about the problems of astronomical data processing, the possibilities to expand the directions of scientific research, as well as the time devoted to solving technical problems. Professor Marian Shimczak (Marian Szymczak) provided useful advice on how to improve the quality of observations of radio astronomy in the framework of the ASTRA project. The center’s specialist in the technical aspects of radio astronomical observation, Eugenius Pazderski (Eugeniusz Pazderski) shared his solutions for improving the data recording hardware and radio telescope at the laboratory of the Astronomy Center. Latvian team had a lot of valuable individual discussions with other members Toruń Centre for Astronomy – Pavel Volak (Paweł Wolak), Marcin Gavronski (Marcin Gawroński), Roman Feiler (Roman Feiler). The discussions also discussed solutions – a small base interferometer that is essential for the successful implementation of the ASTRA project.



During the visit, several opportunities for closer cooperation between the VIRAC and the Toruń Centre for Astronomy were discussed, for example, by setting up a rapid response small interferometry network, performing joint observations of the mower (māzeri), etc. It was decided to examine the possibility of concluding a memorandum of cooperation between the two observatories in the near future.

During this time, VIRAC engineer Māris Bleiders was also present at the Toruń Observatory.