Even before the transfer, however, the observatory cooperated with the university by teaching astronomy there. Left at KVA after the transfer was the Institute for Solar Physics (ISF), which under KVA's auspices ran a solar observatory (first on Capri, and from about 1980 on La Palma) although they in Sweden shared premises with the Department of Astronomy.

Stockholm Observatory's roots go back to the middle of the 18th century when the old observatory on  Observatoriekullen (Observatory Hill) was inaugurated. Since central Stockholm started to become light polluted, the operations were in 1931 moved to a new observatory in Saltsjöbaden, where Stockholm observatory was located until the move to AlbaNova University Center in 2001. In 2013, ISF also became
part of Stockholm University, and the solar telescope on La Palma became a national research infrastructure with support from the Swedish Research Council.

Astronomersgathered around the refractor telescope. Credit: j. Sollerman

To mark the 50th anniversary of the Department of Astronomy, a party was organized on 17 June at the observatory in Saltsjöbaden, to which current and former employees at the department were invited. Close to 80 people gathered for telescope viewings, talks and socializing in the beautiful environment and pleasant early summer weather. Food and drinks were served, and there were several speeches from  present and past employees who shared memories about their experiences of working at the department. It turned out to be a memorable event and a union of the old and new times.

A feast for all guests. Credit: M. Näslund