From Dream to Reality: Pranvera Hyseni and Kosovo’s Observatory and Planetarium

When Pranvera Hyseni and her friends founded Astronomy Outreach of Kosovo (AOK) in January 2015, their country was still in its infancy. The Republic of Kosovo had declared independence on February 17, 2008. Despite the obstacles surrounding her, Pranvera’s passion for astronomy shone brightly. At the time, her fledging nation had no telescope dealers, so her father found a few entry-level telescopes in a neighboring country and brought them in. Although simple, the telescopes delivered great views of the Moon, planets, and other popular objects. Pranvera and her team hosted free public star parties, often filling public squares with excited crowds. She also mastered the use of social media, capturing the attention of astronomers around the globe.

In 2018, Celestron invited Pranvera to the Northeast Astronomy Forum (NEAF) to speak about the future of amateur astronomy and share strategies for promoting the hobby among young people. Her presentation focused on her efforts in Kosovo, highlighting the challenges and successes she encountered while developing astronomy outreach in a region with limited resources. She also shared her ultimate dream—to establish a public observatory and planetarium in Kosovo.

Pranvera’s talk resonated with Celestron CEO Corey Lee. During the event, Lee echoed Pranvera’s wish for a national observatory in Kosovo and announced that Celestron would provide their flagship CGX-L 14” EdgeHD telescope to grace its dome once completed. This surprise gesture recognized Pranvera’s dedication and the significant impact of her work while propelling her passion even further.

After years of proposing her vision to the Kosovar government, Pranvera secured funding and approval to build an observatory and planetarium. Construction began in 2023. Within a year, the team had selected a site, laid the foundation, and made swift progress toward completion. While the observatory was under construction, the Celestron team, more than 6,000 miles away in Torrance, California, was hard at work preparing the CGX-L 14” EdgeHD telescope for its new home.

On June 15, 2024, Celestron representatives traveled to Kosovo to install the CGX-L 14” EdgeHD telescope and provide training on its use. A few days later, a global celebration took place as the doors to the observatory swung open to officially welcome the public. Distinguished guests from as far as the United States, Italy, Switzerland, and Turkey traveled to Kosovo to share in this historic moment.

The new National Observatory and Planetarium of Kosovo, located just outside Pristina, is set to become a significant institution in the Balkans, dedicated to fostering a deep interest in astronomy. It ensures that future generations in Kosovo will continue to look up at the stars with wonder and curiosity.

Congratulations, Pranvera and the entire Astronomy Outreach of Kosovo team! As Pranvera eloquently expressed in her heartfelt remarks at the grand opening: “You won!”