Tuorla Observatory is the largest astronomical research institute in Finland.
Tuorla Observatory was established in 1952 by professor Yrjö Väisälä. A new observatory was needed because the old Iso-Heikkilä Observatory close to the centre of Turku started suffering heavy light pollution from nearby city and especially industrial areas to the south of the observatory. A new place was found in Tuorla, which is one of the small villages in (former) Piikkiö municipality. It is located about 12 kilometres from Turku in the direction of Helsinki. The observatory has several telescopes located around the main buildings, and its one meter Dall-Kirkham reflector is the largest optical telescope in Finland.
A bronze medal was issued in 1972 at the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the observatory. On the obverse the facade of the observatory building is pictured, with stars, clouds and a comet. Legend around "INGENIO LABORE VIRTVTE", meaning "(by) talent, work, virtue".
The reverse shows the left facing portrait of the founder Yrjö Väisälä, who was born in 1891 and died in 1971, soon before this medal was issued. The medal has an engraving in its rim: "INSTITUT ANGEWANTE GEODASIE és KULTATEOLISSUUS", refers to the issuer institute.