Academic Centre
The collection of the Museum of the University of Latvia Friedrich Cander and the Latvian Astronomy has a globe of stars - its diameter is 80 cm, placed in a solid metal housing on a metal tripod. It depicts the brightest stars connected by lines, mythological constellation figures, the Milky Way, a grid and the most important lines of the celestial sphere. It was originally kept at the Astronomical Observatory. In the 1930s, the stellar globe was actively used to teach astronomy students. After the Second World War, the globe was sometimes used for teaching purposes by the head of the Astronomical Observatory, Professor Kārlis Šteins.
As far as is known, other Latvian museums do not have a globe of stars of such a large size, therefore this specimen is considered to be a particularly valuable museum object. The globe has suffered severely over time. The University of Latvia Foundation announced the collection of donations for the restoration of the globe, and thanks to responsive people, a considerable amount has already been collected and the first restoration works have begun. Help you with your contribution to this good work! Donate here.
Sarmīte Balode, a polychrome wood restorer, was invited for the restoration, who assessed the damage and drew up an action plan - globe conservation before transportation, transportation equipment, transportation to the restoration site, globe research before restoration, and finally the restoration work itself.
The Museum of the University of Latvia has started publishing a “Diary of the Restoration of the Star Globe”, which will reflect the entire restoration process.
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About the University of Latvia Foundation
Since 2004, the UL Foundation provides an opportunity to patrons and cooperation partners to support both the University of Latvia and other leading higher education institutions of our country, thereby investing in the future of Latvia. The priorities of the UL Foundation are to support the most outstanding, dedicated students and researchers, to advance creation of a modern study environment, as well as to promote construction and refurbishment of university’s buildings.
