The sky is the limit: help Višnjan Observatory raise new generations of scientists

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The third goal – 110,824 EUR– has been reached. This means that the Višnjan Observatory can move forward with building a new technology demonstrator telescope, i.e. a prototype for the next generation of telescopes for tracking asteroids.

Now we have the opportunity to enable the Observatory to create a better prototype than the one that Mr. Korado Korlević cautiously hoped the campaign would enable. 🙂

We are pushing towards the 4th goal – 157,277 EUR and we are extending the campaign until 15 January 2021!

What do we hope to accomplish? Technology develops extraordinarily fast and the Observatory’s current telescope will become obsolete over the next four years. That is why mr. Korlević and his students have spent the last two years planning a project for building a next-generation telescope. The previous campaign goal of 110,824 EUR has already made it possible to build a prototype with a 600-millimetre lens. The new goal of 157,277 EUR will enable the Observatory to build an 800 mm lens and to procure higher quality materials and parts for the prototype than it was originally planned. The Višnjan Observatory, as one of the five leading observatories in the world for measuring the position of newly discovered objects that may pass near Earth, definitely deserves to retain its global renown. Those of us organizing this crowdfunding campaign are elated to have both the opportunity and the honour of helping to make this happen.

The goal is being stretched and the campaign extended because of significant public interest, as well as interest from individuals and companies to get involved and help. We are in talks with companies that could not get involved in the campaign in 2020 due to budgeting, but will be able to donate in January 2021.

We’re pushing to 157,277 EUR Let’s make this campaign one of the greatest, if not even the greatest ever crowdfunding campaign for science in Croatia!

Who, what and how much?

The user of the crowdfunding campaign is the Višnjan Astronomical Society which has accepted the following goal proposed by a team of volunteers:

We aim to raise 110,824 EUR for the Višnjan Observatory, one of the world’s leading asteroid hunters and likely the most prominent Croatian organization that has been educating future Croatian scientists for decades.

We are helping to finance two essentials required for educating a new generation of young scientific minds:
1. Geodesic dome​ for hosting educational programs.
2. Bungalows for accommodating guests​ (students, professors and mentors).

We plan to raise 110,824 EUR ​between 1 December and 31 December 2020 ​and we are confident that this goal will be achieved. So far numerous citizens, entrepreneurs and anonymous benefactors have successfully contributed to similar projects. We believe that this will be the case even in 2020 when science, critical thinking and knowledge of future generations are particularly vulnerable.

How to donate (it’s simple!)

In order to make a successful payment, it is necessary to:
1. If you are on a laptop, select the desired payment amount on the right margin of the campaign page or select an arbitrary amount in the page header, and if you are on the mobile version, select the desired amount at the beginning or scroll to the bottom of the campaign page;
2. enter the requested personal data in the form;
3. select the desired payment method:
a) Mastercard®, Maestro® or Visa card (Monri option);
b) Cryptocurrency via PayCek;
c) KEKS Pay;
d) Airchash;
e) General payment slip or internet or mobile banking.
4. confirm the payment according to further instructions of the platform.

After the payment has been made, it is necessary to wait a certain time until the payment is processed and recorded on the campaign page. Payments made by general payment slip or internet/mobile banking are recorded within 1 to 2 working days, and payments made by cards, cryptocurrencies, Aircash or KEKS Pay within 1 to 12 hours.

For additional technical inquiries regarding payment, please contact us through the e-mail address info@bonafidesinvest.eu or the phone number +385 (0)98 611 467.

We take this opportunity to thank ZABA Bank and Monri, which enabled payment with Mastercard®, Maestro® and Visa cards, Erste Bank which enabled payment with application KEKS Pay, Airchash Ltd. which enabled payment with Aircash mobile wallet, and Electrocoin and PayCek, which enabled payment with cryptocurrencies. We also thank the hosting company MyDataKnox for maintaining the server.

And that’s it! Our team will send you a reward related to the investment model after payment.

Don’t forget to share with friends the information you donated. Donation is a noble act that is more successful the more people participate.

“Višnjan was a milestone in my life as it enabled me to surpass my intellectual limitations. Korado made everything inside me click into place!” – Vernesa Smolčić, astrophysicist

Višnjan Observatory is the pride of Croatia, recognized worldwide for both science and education

Did you know that the Višnjan Observatory has been a global leader for more than 40 years when it comes to ​tracking and detecting asteroids,​ these potentially very dangerous and mysterious celestial bodies?

Did you know that the small observatory in the heart of Istria was ahead of the American NASA in that respect, and now it is one of the five most important observatories for measuring the position of newly discovered objects that could pass close to the Earth?

Between 1995 and 2000, the Observatory discovered over 1,400 new asteroids and two comets.

Did you know that Korado Korlević, the founder of Višnjan Observatory, is an award-winning communicator and selfless teacher, as well as one of the most successful asteroid hunters in the world?

Tracking and discovering asteroids is an important scientific activity conducted by the Observatory. However, the Observatory’s educational activities are quite possibly even more significant and definitely invaluable for Croatia. Each year the Observatory organizes practical science camps attended by a large number of highly motivated and gifted elementary and high school students. Some of them will one day become scientists at NASA, JPL or other renowned scientific institutions worldwide.

Here are a few of them, those who have first delved into the mysteries of the cosmos when attending the Višnjan Observatory’s educational programs as kids:
● Mario Jurić,​ professor and director of the DiRAC Institute at the University of Washington, Seattle, USA; student/mentor/regular guest of the Višnjan Observatory 1993-2002, software developer for the asteroid detection programmed used in Višnjan (as a high school and university student)
● Vernesa Smolčić,​ astrophysicist, full professor, Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb

“School and work in Višnjan have taught me that possibilities have no limits. That through hard work, creativity, self-confidence and excellent mentors, a group of kids from Croatia can create something to match the best observatories in the world. We were taught not to ask if something could be done, but that the right question was – how.” – prof. Mario Jurić

How the Observatory is going to invest the donations

In recent history, the Observatory has successfully funded some of its scientific and technological needs, such as upgrading the telescope, exactly through the selfless donations by Croatian benefactors and the awards from international institutions.

The time has now come to upgrade the educational capacities, which will enable the Observatory to host more kids as well as experts (teachers and mentors) to support the young future scientists. Each year more and more children show interest in the Observatory’s education programs. The Observatory has to expand its capacities to beyond what is currently available in order to enable brilliant young minds from to receive the opportunity to learn and spend time with peers.

This is the plan:

PHASE 1: CONSTRUCTION OF GEODESIC DOME

If this campaign succeeds in collecting up to 39,817 EUR, the breathtaking new geodesic dome will be built, which kind of looks like a Mars habitat. It will accommodate lectures and educational and practical programs. Your donations will be directly funneled into funding the dome.

Planned completion of geodesic dome: up to 6 months after the campaign ends (depending on suppliers)

PHASE 2: CONSTRUCTION OF BUNGALOWS

If this campaign reaches 84,279 EUR, bungalows will be built that are used to accommodate kids and their teachers, mentors and other supporters. Camps last for several days and the Observatory wants to make everyone feel comfortable for the duration of their stay.

A temporary location permit has already been secured for the bungalows, bids have been received and the only thing left to make accommodation pleasant in Tičan, where the new Višnjan Observatory is located, is funding. We need your help! Select one of the investment models.

Planned completion of bungalows: up to 6 months after the campaign ends (depending on suppliers)

In case you pleasantly surprise us with your donations…

… and the total amount raised exceeds the target 84,279 EUR Korado Korlević, director of the Višnjan Observatory, will be able

• to set up a location for testing robotic telescopes and
  ● acquire additional capacities for student accommodation.

“Investing in children is the single greatest thing worth investing in.” – Korado Korlević

Empower the Višnjan Observatory with your donation

There is so much talk about knowledge society: this is an opportunity to be the person who truly does something to make the dream of a knowledge society come true in Croatia. All it takes is the smallest donation.

Knowledge is the greatest value. By donating to Višnjan Observatory you invest in concrete and proven programs that truly teach scientific literacy and improve the social lives of the most gifted of our children.

Instead of a Christmas present, tell your loved ones to donate to the Višnjan Observatory in your name. Instead of a birthday gift in December or January, tell the ones you care about the most that the best gift is a donation to Višnjan Observatory.

Please donate now! Every little bit helps.
If you do not have the possibility of donating now or later, please share this with others.

THANK YOU!

Who’s behind this crowdfunding campaign?

The campaign bearer to whom the croinvest.eu crowdfunding platform will transfer all donated funds is the organization that runs the Višnjan Observatory – VIŠNJAN ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Istarska 5, 52463 Višnjan, Croatia.

The crowdfunding campaign itself is run by three volunteers who have taken this idea and implemented it in practice:

Ivan Crnković – mastermind, investor in CRANE

Aco Momčilović – project manager, owner of FutureHR

Višnja Željeznjak – copywriter, author of all texts, co-owner of Logit-net

Additional volunteers have answered the call for assistance (thank you all, we mean it!):
Vladivoj Lisica – English language translator
Tibor Weigand – German language translator
Nela Dunato – graphic designer and author of the visuals
Dario Šuler – digital advertising specialist, Facebook campaign management

Basic information about the campaign owner

Name of organization: VISNJAN ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY
Address: Istarska 5, 52463 Višnjan
Representative: Korado Korlević
Mobile phone: +385 (0)91 449 1788
Email: korado@astro.hr
Web: www.astro.hr
Facebook page: https://web.facebook.com/Crowdfunding-za-Zvjezdarnicu-Vi%C5%A1njan-102122885085214
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC29aKkVO5q5R16u3LHITxCQ
OIB: 90589944275
Identification number: 03063631

Sources of information

1) https://www.istriaterramagica.eu/novosti/zvjezdarnica-visnjan-prva-na-svijetu-u-otkrivanju-asteroida-pretekla-nasa-u/
2) https://express.24sata.hr/znanost/nasa-pocinju-pripreme-za-asteroid-ubojicu-civilizacije-2029-21293
3) https://www.tportal.hr/vijesti/clanak/pokretac-zvjezdarnice-visnjan-izabran-za-komunikatora-godine-20200429
4) https://www.bug.hr/astronomija/korado-korlevic-i-zvjezdarnica-visnjan-dobili-potporu-od-udruge-planetary-12921
5) https://www.vernesasmolcic.com/kako-sam-se-pocela-baviti-astrofizikom/