| Ursa Astronomical Association | |
| Native Name: | Tähtitieteellinen yhdistys Ursa ry |
| Native Name Lang: | fi |
| Location: | Helsinki, Finland |
| Area Served: | Finland |
| Focus: | Amateur astronomy |
| Homepage: | www.ursa.fi |
| Membership: | 18,218 |
| Membership Year: | 2016 |
Ursa Astronomical Association (Finnish: Tähtitieteellinen yhdistys Ursa ry) is the largest astronomical association in Finland. Ursa was founded on 2 November 1921. Founding members include a renowned Finnish astronomer Yrjö Väisälä. In 1926 Ursa established the Ursa Observatory in Kaivopuisto district of Helsinki. In 2007 the Tähtikallio Observatory & Education Center was established in Artjärvi, its current equipment includes an Astrofox 36" Folded Newtonian Open tube telescope, an Alluna 16" Ritchey-Chrétien telescope, a Meade 16" LX200GPS Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, a Sky-Watcher ED 120mm refractor telescope fitted with a Baader AstroSolar Solar Filter and a piggybacked Coronado SolarMax 40 H-Alpha telescope. Ursa's primary functions include advancing amateur astronomy and astronomical education.[1] They have published a magazine Tähdet ja avaruus since 1971 and have provided awards to exceptional members of amateur astronomy for significant astronomical observations since 1988.[2] [3] Anyone can join Ursa for an annual fee.[4]
The organization has thirteen sections specialized in different aspects of amateur astronomy (and meteorology):
In addition, Ursa has two loosely organized hobby groups: