Stockholm Observatory has a regular program of activities for the general public. Twice a month from October till March, the observatory makes available its 10-m-long 0.5m- and 0.6m-diameter double refractor for observations of the Moon, planets, and nebulae. Attendance is by reservation for individuals, groups or school classes. Lectures are also given by the observatory staff at these occasions. Because they are very popular they are fully booked early, and in order not to disappoint too many people, the Stockholm Observatory also has an approximately annual "Open House" on a Saturday or Sunday, at which no reservations are needed. These Open Houses may be timed to coincide with a celestial event such as a solar eclipse or the appearance of a bright comet. During 1999, such an occasion was a partial solar eclipse on August 11. The Stockholm Observatory has a stand at the popular Saltsjöbaden Festival that takes place near Grand Hotel, Saltsjöbaden in early June every year.
Twice a week, an astronomer is on telephone-duty for questions from the general public. Other staff members are available for consultation by secondary and high school students. Stockholm Observatory also accepts apprentice students from secondary schools for one-week internships at the Observatory. A program of collaboration is ongoing with a nearby upper secondary and high school (Saltsjöbadens Samskola) which has a special astronomical curriculum. Finally, some of the faculty members and graduate students are very active in media such as radio, TV and the press. A number of astronomical articles in the newspapers, about ten TV- and radio-programs have appeared that are based on interviews with the researchers from Stockholm Observatory. About 20 popular lectures have been given in different cities all over Sweden.
Stockholm Observatory has an intimate relationship with COSMONOVA, the Planetarium/Omnitheatre located at the Swedish National Museum of Natural History in Stockholm. Aage Sandqvist has been the astronomical consultant to Cosmonova since 1972, vice-chairman of the Swedish Omnitheatre (Cosmonova) Foundation since 1991. As a token of appreciation of his continuing efforts, Cosmonova is placed at the disposal of Stockholm Observatory twice a year, and free of charge, for presentations of astronomical programs to astronomy students at Stockholm University and Saltsjöbadens Samskola.
Gösta Gahm has continued the work with Sweden Solar System (SSS), the world's largest model of the solar system. In 1999 three inaugurations took place: The comet Swifft-Tuttle at the Science Center Kreativum, Karlshamn, Blekinge, the planet Mars at Mörby Centrum, Danderyd, and the planet Earth at Cosmonova at the Swedish Museum of Natural History. Special activities were given at several stations, like the "Rymddagarna" at the Stockholms stadsmuseum and astronomy exhibitions in for instance Karlshamn. Several national/local radio/TV-programs and dayly/weakly journals/magazines have been high-lighting SSS during the year. In addition to numerous talks and interviews in connection to SSS, Gahm has given public lectures at Bokmässan, Gothenburgh, and Strindbergsmuseet and Geologiska föreningen, both in Stockholm. Finally, Gahm has participated in several TV-programs on astronomy (Utbildningsradion, Hjärnkontoret and TV1).
Magnus Näslund has been participating in a number of public activities, in most cases in the context of Project SkolAstro, such as interviews related to astronomical events in national TV channels as well as local and national radio channels, Sweden Solar System activities, seminar at ``Skolforum 99'' and as an expert in astronomy in educational TV programs (``Hjärnkontoret'' and ``Utbildningsradion'').
Hans Olofsson was invited by the Svenska Astronomiska Sällskapet to give the first Nordenmarkföredrag. The title was ``Stormen före lugnet: solliknade stjärnors dödskamp''. Mats Löfdahl gave interviews related to 1999 solar eclipse for TV3 ``TV3 Direct'' and SVT2 ``Rapport morgon''. Roland Svensson gave an interview on Gamma-Ray Bursts for Dagens Nyheter. Bertil Dorch gave lectures at the Danish Astronomical Society Solar-section Workshop on Sunspots (Arden, Denmark) and at a course for Danish gymnasium-lecturers The Active Sun (Haslev, Denmark).
Peter Lundqvist, who is the Observatory's official contact person to media, gave several radio and TV interviews during 1999, mainly in connection with the solar eclipse in August, and the Leonid storm in November. He also participated in preparations for the program ``Hjärnkontoret''.