Nordic-Baltic Astronomy Days 2026 brought more than 200 astronomers to Turku
More than 200 astronomers from 17 countries gathered in Turku on 26–29 May for the Nordic-Baltic Astronomy Days 2026 conference. The event aimed to strengthen astronomical collaboration across the Nordic and Baltic region, support networking opportunities for early-career researchers, and reinforce regional connections to major international astronomical organisations.
The conference was a historic occasion, as the previous astronomy meeting specifically focused on the Nordic-Baltic region was held in Uppsala, Sweden, in 1990. The conference was organised by the Finnish Astronomical Society in collaboration with researchers from the University of Turku.
During the four-day event, participants attended presentations by 17 invited speakers, including several internationally recognised experts from organisations such as the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and the European Space Agency (ESA). In total, the conference featured around 170 scientific contributions, the majority presented by early-career researchers.
“The Nordic-Baltic Astronomy Days provided a unique opportunity to bring together astronomers from across the region. The event fostered new research collaborations and strengthened scientific cooperation, laying the groundwork for future international research in astronomy and astrophysics. The idea started within Finland as a joint conference between Finland and Sweden, but then it quickly attracted interest from all countries in the region.” says Pouya Kouch from the University of Turku, the instigator and main organiser of the event.
One of the conference’s central objectives was to provide younger researchers with an opportunity to present their work to an international audience and build professional networks across the region.
“A large proportion of the scientific programme was presented by doctoral researchers and other early-career scientists. The conference offered them an important platform to receive feedback, showcase their work, and establish connections for future collaborations. As a doctoral researcher myself, I recognize the significant role such opportunities play in shaping the career of a young researcher.” says Kouch.
As part of the conference programme, more than 130 participants visited the Tuorla Observatory, also known as Väisälä Space Park.
The week also included a public outreach lecture organised in collaboration with the Finnish Astronomical Association Ursa and the Turku City Library, focusing on the history of the Solar System, asteroids, and comets.
The lecture was live-streamed, and a recording is available on YouTube:
