The official poster of the event
Scientific progress in astronomy and multidisciplinary dynamic assimilation in Romania
On November 13, 2024, the Cluj-Napoca Branch of the Romanian Academy hosted a roundtable discussion dedicated to multidisciplinary dynamics linked to advancements in the field of astronomy. The event provided an opportunity to reflect on contemporary developments in this domain, comparable to the great geographical discoveries of the 15th and 16th centuries.
During the meeting, discussions focused on integrating new scientific discoveries into the Romanian education system, developing Romania's research infrastructure, and enhancing specialized human resources in the field of astronomy. The debates revolved around key questions concerning the ability of Romanian research and educational institutions to adapt to this immense flow of information and the changes it entails. Among the questions addressed were the following:
- How are Romanian research and educational institutions coping with this massive flow of information and the paradigm shifts it will bring?
- What is the capacity to incorporate new discoveries into educational programs?
- How capable is Romania’s research infrastructure of aligning with global standards?
- How far are we from achieving a critical mass of researchers in astronomy to meet the challenges of our time?
The event brought together astronomers from the Astronomical Observatory in Cluj-Napoca and the Astronomical Observatory in Bucharest, both part of the Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy, alongside experts from related fields such as mathematics, physics, philosophy, computer science, and other cultural areas.
Distribution of the taxonomic classes obtained for all objects of the NEOROCKS survey color data.
Neorocks final results - Romanian astronomers get involved
NEOROCKS stands for Near Earth Objects, Rapid Observations, Characterization and Key Responses.
NEOROCKS has connected expertise in performing small body astronomical observations and the related modelling needed to derive their dynamical and physical properties, to the pragmatic planetary defense approach, which aims to provide operational loops and information systems to protect citizens and ground infrastructures from potential threats. For more than three years the European consortium collected astronomical observations, modelled dynamically and physically surfaces and internal properties of Near Earth Objects (NEOs).
One of the objectives of NEOROCKS is to characterize as many Potential Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) as possible in terms of their colors. NEOs have small diameters and can be observed from ground-based telescopes during close encounters with Earth. Their favorable geometries, sometimes for a time period of hours and days, need to be used to perform as many observations as possible in order to have access to several parameters that will ultimately aid in constraining their mass, shape, surface composition, surface rugosity, and internal structure.
The final results of the NEOROCKS color database are composed of 170 objects that were observed for more than 63 nights between 2020 and 2023. Most of these observations were carried out at the Observatoire de Haute Provence in France. A few observations were performed at the Pic du Midi Observatory (also in France). The survey was done in four broadband filters, namely B, V, R, and I. The sample also contains values of colors for asteroid (99942) Apophis, which will graze the Earth on April 13, 2029.
The statistics of the taxonomical types clearly indicate a large percentage of rocky silicate-rich asteroids (S-complex taxon). For objects with diameters smaller than 500 m, approximately 59% of them are S-type objects. This large percentage is mainly due to a bias induced by the surface reflectivity of objects (S-type asteroids are more reflective than C-type objects).
The chaos for the objects of the NEOROCKS color database was determined using the Lyapunov time of each object. The statistics show that the average Lyapunov time does not go beyond 100 years.
Several objects of the NEOROCKS color database have orbits similar to those of meteoroids associated with meteor showers. Among them, the asteroid 2011 OL51 was validated by two metrics used for this investigation, and it may be one of the parent bodies of the OCC meteor shower.
For more information on the subject follow the link here enclosed.
Birlan M., Barucci, M.A.,…, Sonka A.,…, Nedelcu A., …, Anghel S., et al - NEOROCKS color survey: Final results, Astronomy & Astrophysics, Volume 689, id.A334, 2024, https://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/pdf/2024/09/aa50495-24.pdf
About natural disaster reduction, at the Technical Museum
On October 15, 2024, the Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy, in partnership with the Bucharest City Hall, Environmental Directorate - Urban Ecology Service, participated in the “CLADES NON TIMEO” project held at the Dimitrie Leonida National Technical Museum on the occasion of the "International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction."
As part of this participation, the Astronomical Institute activated several educational components. The backdrop of the Institute's stand was visually and informatively represented by several colorful thematic roll-ups. These highlighted celestial bodies that pose potential hazards to Earth, accompanied by mathematical evaluations of the probability of impact for many of them. The stand also featured an extensive modeling area with scaled 3D-printed models of asteroids and dwarf planets in the Solar System, as well as models of space vehicles similar to those that land on asteroids. Additionally, real meteorite fragments, billions of years old and discovered in Africa, were available for participants to study.
Technological transfer from the aerospace industry to everyday devices and products was also included in the discussions. Concrete examples were presented, and the dynamic issues in these fields were explained to visitors, particularly school-aged audiences.
The spectacular model of the Hubble Space Telescope was a focal point of attraction at the Astronomical Institute's stand.
A multitude of colorful lights on our models, exclamations of amazement, countless questions, and many smiling faces characterized this event.
The educational team of the Astronomical Institute highlights Romanian astronomers' contributions to understanding space hazards through celestial mechanics.
The Falcon 9 rocket stage that launched the Hera space probe into space
Monitoring of the Hera space mission launch from Romania
The Hera space probe, developed by the European Space Agency (ESA), was launched from Cape Canaveral on October 7, 2024, at 17:52 (Romanian time). The mission aims to study the asteroid (65803) Didymos and its moon, Dimorphos, which was intentionally struck with a projectile on September 22, 2022. Hera will analyze the aftermath of this impact to better understand how humanity might deflect a potentially dangerous asteroid, an effort critical for planetary defense strategies.
The Hera mission is part of ESA's planetary defense program and works in conjunction with NASA's DART (Double Asteroid Redirection Test) mission, which carried out the initial impact. By combining data from both missions, scientists aim to refine models of asteroid dynamics and assess the efficiency of kinetic impactors as a tool for asteroid deflection. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in international efforts to prevent catastrophic asteroid impacts on Earth.
Just eight hours after the launch, astronomers at the Romanian Academy's Astronomical Institute, from the Berthelot Observatory, observed the Falcon 9 rocket stage that launched the Hera probe as it traveled 145,000 km away from Earth. The object moved rapidly and displayed variations in brightness due to its uncontrolled rotation. While the Hera spacecraft itself was also in the images, it was too small to be detected with the telescope. Nevertheless, the observation highlighted the excitement and precision involved in tracking space missions from Earth.