# Astronomical Institute of Czech Academy of Sciences

> Czech research institute

**Wikidata**: [Q751993](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q751993)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronomical_Institute_of_the_Czech_Academy_of_Sciences)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/astronomical-institute-of-czech-academy-of-sciences

## Summary
The Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences (Astronomický ústav AV ČR, v. v. i.) is a public research institution in the Czech Republic dedicated to astronomical research. Founded in 1954 and located in Ondřejov, it operates as a constituent institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences.

## Key Facts
- **Official Name:** Astronomický ústav AV ČR, v. v. i. (Czech); Astronomical Institute of the CAS (English)
- **Founded:** January 1, 1954
- **Parent Organization:** Czech Academy of Sciences (part_of)
- **Legal Form:** Czech public research institution
- **Location:** Ondřejov, Czech Republic (headquarters)
- **Coordinates:** 49.909161° N, 14.781889° E
- **Website:** http://www.asu.cas.cz/ (available in Czech and English)
- **Contact:** Phone +420-323-620-116; Fax +420-323-620-110 / +420-323-620-117; Email info@asu.cas.cz
- **EU VAT Number:** CZ67985815
- **Czech Registration ID (IČO):** 67985815
- **Research Organization Identifiers:**
  - ROR ID: 03tp8z347
  - GRID ID: grid.423799.2
  - ISNI: 0000000403853578
  - GND ID: 6012093-9
  - VIAF ID: 124979376
  - Freebase ID: /m/080dg7_
  - Ringgold ID: 111147
  - Microsoft Academic ID (discontinued): 2800512976
- **Library Identifiers:**
  - Library of Congress Authority ID: n96090190
  - National Library of Lithuania ID: LNB:aTN;=BZ
  - Slovak National Library (via VIAF) ID: vtls012845848
  - Czech National Authority ID (NKC): ko2002150690 / ko2002150691
  - CINII Research ID: 1140845216733091840
  - NACSIS CAT Author ID: DA15325483
  - BIBSYS ID: 99028975
- **Wikipedia Presence:** Articles in 8 languages (Arabic, Commons, Czech, German, Greek, English, Slovak, Ukrainian)
- **Sitelink Count:** 8 (Wikipedia language editions)
- **Instance Of:** Research institute; institute; Czech research institution

## FAQs
**What is the relationship between the Astronomical Institute and the Czech Academy of Sciences?**
The Astronomical Institute is a constituent public research institution (v. v. i.) that is formally part of the Czech Academy of Sciences (AV ČR). It operates under the academy's umbrella as one of its specialized research institutes.

**Where is the institute located and what is its significance?**
Its headquarters and primary facilities are located in the village of Ondřejov, approximately 35 km southeast of Prague. The site houses the main Ondřejov Observatory, which is the largest astronomical observatory in the Czech Republic and a key facility for the institute's research activities.

**How can the institute be identified in international research databases?**
The institute is uniquely identified in numerous global research systems through persistent identifiers such as its ROR ID (03tp8z347), GRID ID (grid.423799.2), ISNI (0000000403853578), and VIAF ID (124979376). These IDs link its records across library catalogs, funding databases, and scholarly infrastructure.

**What is the institute's official status and founding date?**
It is a Czech public research institution (právnická osoba) that was formally established on January 1, 1954. Its legal and operational framework is defined by Czech law for public research institutions.

## Why It Matters
As a dedicated astronomical research institute within a national academy, it provides a focused environment for long-term, fundamental inquiry into astrophysics, solar physics, planetary science, and related fields. Free from undergraduate teaching obligations, its researchers can pursue specialized, high-risk projects that require sustained observational campaigns (using its Ondřejov Observatory facilities) and theoretical development. It serves as a critical node in the Czech and European astronomical research ecosystem, contributing observational data, expertise, and trained scientists to international collaborations. Its existence ensures the preservation and advancement of Czech astronomical research heritage and capability, addressing core scientific questions about the universe while also supporting applied space science and technology development relevant to national and European strategic interests.

## Notable For
- **Specialized National Facility:** Operates the Ondřejov Observatory, the largest astronomical observatory in the Czech Republic, providing a major domestic resource for observational astronomy.
- **Long-Standing Institution:** Has been a continuous part of the Czech (formerly Czechoslovak) scientific landscape since its founding in 1954.
- **Distinct Organizational Model:** Functions as a pure research institute (v. v. i.) under the Czech Academy of Sciences, distinguishing it from university departments that combine teaching and research.
- **High International Recognition:** Holds validated, persistent identifiers (ROR, GRID, ISNI, VIAF) across major global research identification systems, confirming its status as a recognized independent research entity.
- **Multilingual Presence:** Maintains official information and a Wikipedia presence in multiple languages (Czech, English, German, etc.), reflecting its international scholarly engagement.
- **Public Legal Status:** Its designation as a "Czech public research institution" (právnická osoba) defines its specific legal and funding relationship with the Czech state.

## Body

### History and Institutional Context
The Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences was formally established on January 1, 1954. Its creation consolidated astronomical research activities under the newly structured Czechoslovak (now Czech) Academy of Sciences. It has operated continuously since that date as a dedicated research institute, separate from university education. Its official legal name is "Astronomický ústav AV ČR, v. v. i.," where "v. v. i." stands for "veřejná výzkumná instituce" (public research institution), a specific Czech legal form for state-funded research organizations.

### Location and Facilities
The institute's headquarters and primary operational base is in Ondřejov, a village in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. The geographic coordinates of its main facility are 49.909161° N latitude and 14.781889° E longitude. This location hosts the Ondřejov Observatory, which is the principal astronomical observatory of the Czech Republic. The site provides the essential infrastructure for the institute's observational programs, including telescope facilities, laboratories, and data processing centers.

### Organizational Structure and Affiliation
The institute is a constituent part of the Czech Academy of Sciences (Akademie věd České republiky, AV ČR). This parent-subsidiary relationship is a core aspect of its identity and governance. As a "public research institution" (právnická osoba), it has its own legal personality and registration with the Czech government (IČO: 67985815). Its industry classification is "research," and its operational model is that of a standalone research institute rather than a department within a university or a private company.

### Identity and Data Integration
The institute is extensively mapped across international scholarly and library infrastructures. Key identifiers include:
- **Research Organization Identifiers:** ROR (03tp8z347), GRID (grid.423799.2), ISNI (0000000403853578), Freebase (/m/080dg7_).
- **Library Authority IDs:** GND (6012093-9), VIAF (124979376), Library of Congress (n96090190), and national library IDs for Lithuania and Slovakia.
- **Academic IDs:** Microsoft Academic (2800512976, discontinued), CINII (1140845216733091840), NACSIS CAT (DA15325483), BIBSYS (99028975).
- **Ringgold ID:** 111147, associated with its official name "Astronomický ústav Akademie věd České republiky."
- **EU Identifiers:** EU Participant Identification Code (999511766) and VAT number (CZ67985815).

These identifiers confirm its recognition as an independent, persistent research entity in global data ecosystems.

### Digital Presence and Communication
The institute maintains an official website at `http://www.asu.cas.cz/`, which is available in both Czech and English language versions. It provides an RSS web feed (`http://asu.cas.cz/cz/rss`) for updates. General inquiries can be directed to `info@asu.cas.cz`. Its telephone contact is +420-323-620-116, with separate fax numbers for different departments (+420-323-620-110 and +420-323-620-117). It also operates a Shibboleth identity provider endpoint (`https://idp.asu.cas.cz/idp/shibboleth`) for federated authentication, indicating participation in academic identity federations like eduID.

### Wikipedia and Knowledge Base Coverage
The institute has a documented presence in the Wikipedia knowledge base, with dedicated articles in eight language editions: Arabic (ar), Wikimedia Commons (commons), Czech (cs), German (de), Greek (el), English (en), Slovak (sk), and Ukrainian (uk). The sitelink count of 8 reflects this multilingual coverage. The Wikidata entry (Q31855 for the general class, specific item linked via sameAs) describes it as a "Czech research institute" and provides the structured data backbone for these connections.

### Official Naming and Classification
Its official formal name in Czech is "Astronomický ústav AV ČR, v. v. i." The English official name used on its website and in international contexts is "Astronomical Institute of the CAS" (CAS = Czech Academy of Sciences). In structured data, it is typed as an instance of `schema.org/ResearchOrganization` and is classified in library science under Dewey Decimal Classification 001.406 (research). It is explicitly differentiated from entities like scientific societies, think tanks, and university departments in its classification rationale.

## References

1. [List of research organizations](https://www.msmt.cz/vyzkum-a-vyvoj-2/astronomicky-ustav-av-cr-v-v-i)
2. Access to Registers of Economic Subjects
3. GRID Release 2017-01-10
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. CiNii Research
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. Czech National Authority Database
8. [Source](https://www.asu.cas.cz/cz/kontakty/kontakt)
9. [Source](https://www.asu.cas.cz/cz/special-pages-cz/logo-a-graficky-manual)
10. GRID Release 2015-12-14
11. GRID Release 2016-12-06
12. [Source](https://orcid.org/signin)
13. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
14. [Seznam datových schránek : Právnické osoby. Ministry of the Interior](https://www.mojedatovaschranka.cz/sds/datafile?format=xml&service=seznam_ds_po)
15. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)