The observatory at Hurbanovo (up to 1947 Stará Ďala, Hungarian: Ógyalla), can be considered as the cradle of modern astronomy in Hungary and later Czechoslovakia. It was established as a private observatory by Dr. Miklós Konkoly-Thege in 1871. His primary goal was to create a modern astronomical centre to make observations at a high scientific level. He was an exceptionally talented scientist and manager which allowed him, in only a few years, to turn the small private observatory into a world-class scientific workplace.      The observatory has gone through three stages of development. The first of them took place from...