Participants in the 9th International Conference in Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space and Planetary Sciences, gathered at the Cluj-Napoca Astronomical Observatory
The International Conference in Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space and Planetary Sciences – 2026
Between July 1 and 3, 2026, the Cluj-Napoca Astronomical Observatory of the Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy hosted the 9th edition of the International Conference in Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space and Planetary Sciences, organized as part of the Academic Days Cluj-Napoca 2026 series. For three days, researchers from Romania and abroad were reunited in a shared forum for scientific debate. The conference programme brought together topics representative of current astronomical research, ranging from the study of asteroids, artificial satellites and the orbital environment to astrophysics, cosmology, exoplanets and solar physics. The technological dimension was supported by research on artificial intelligence, astronomical image processing, and the development of new methods and software tools.
The Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy was represented by researchers and topics reflecting its current activities, including stellar and solar observations, studies of small bodies in the Solar System, and the development and operation of advanced infrastructure dedicated to monitoring near-Earth space. The conference also featured preliminary results from the international Exo4Edu project, strategies dedicated to astronomy education in Romania, and an assessment of the observational infrastructure and strategic development directions of the Astronomical Institute.
A distinct component of the conference programme was the dialogue between fundamental research, technology, education and the history of science. The posters and presentations covering these fields showed that both public education on exoplanets and the broader development of astronomical literacy cannot be viewed within the boundaries of a single discipline.
Now in its 9th edition, the Cluj-Napoca conference is further consolidating its character as an interdisciplinary scientific meeting, where researchers present their latest results, some of them for the first time before the specialist community, submit them to collegial discussion, and open new opportunities for collaboration. In this respect, Cluj-Napoca provided a particularly fitting setting for such a meeting. Here, the academic framework of the Romanian Academy, represented by the Astronomical Institute, naturally meets the dynamism of a strong university environment, shaped above all by the contribution of Babeș-Bolyai University. Through this close interaction between institutions and fields of research, the cooperation and contributions emerging from the conference lead to the publication of full scientific papers in a special issue of the Romanian Astronomical Journal. Thus, the three days of scientific dialogue offer a snapshot of the current state of astronomy, astrophysics and related scientific fields, while also serving as a starting point for future research and publications.
Romania's educational team at Exo4Edu training activities in Albania (6–11 July 2026)
Team Romania at the 2026 Exo4Edu Summer School in Albania
Between July 6 and 11, 2026, in Durrës, Albania, the Romanian team brought to the Exo4Edu Summer School a wealth of educational experience, a deep passion for the teaching profession, and the shared conviction that astronomy can and must reach every student. A true elite of Romanian educators – Andrada Nicola Sabău, from the “Onisifor Ghibu” National College in Oradea, Dr Felicia Elena Călmuc, from the Children’s Palace in Craiova, Adrian Temelescu, from the “Mircea Eliade” Theoretical High School in Lupeni, and Radu-Andrei Tomescu, from the “Nicolae Iorga” National College in Vălenii de Munte – delivered engaging presentations that were highly appreciated by both participants and organisers for their professionalism, creativity, and responsiveness to the real needs of students.
Behind this remarkable participation stood the coordination of Dr Iharka-Magdolna Csillik, from the Cluj-Napoca Branch of the Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy, as well as, back home, the tireless work of Ana Naghi, Carmen Busu, and Dr Mirel Bîrlan, Director of the Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy. In Albania, Iharka consistently supported every member of the team, providing academic-level feedback that helped bring our presentations into their best possible form. She also proposed and coordinated an interdisciplinary practical activity combining astronomy, mathematics, and science education, entitled “How Long Would It Take to Reach Your Chosen Exoplanet?”. This workshop was built around the use of exoplanet databases, enabling participants to understand cosmic distances through calculations that are accessible to students.
The pedagogical contribution of the Romanian team was further strengthened throughout the activities and workshops of the summer school by the second representative of the Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy, Sorin Marin. His presentation, “From Astronomical Heritage to Exoplanet Education. A Case Study from the Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy”, connected astronomical heritage with modern educational methods and with both conventional and experimental teaching hardware. Starting from Romania’s ancient historical sites and the treasured scientific instruments of the Astronomical Institute, he demonstrated how the light of the stars is explained and how fundamental astronomical concepts are taught in non-formal educational settings. With great emotion, the Portuguese and Albanian participants, together with the French organizers of the summer school, learned that in our country the sky – its planets and constellations – is also introduced to blind children through a tactile mini-planetarium. Our message at this international summer school was that, in our Motherland, Romania, and beyond, we will dedicate our work to ensuring that every child can experience the joy of discovering and understanding the Universe.
Exo4Edu Preliminary Results at the Academic Days Cluj-Napoca 2026
The 9th International Conference on Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space, and Planetary Sciences was held from July 1 to July 3, 2026, at the Astronomical Observatory in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, as part of the Academic Days Cluj-Napoca 2026 series. The subjects covered included Astronomy, Astrophysics, Cosmology, Planetary and Earth Sciences, History of Science and Outreach, as well as Artificial Satellite Science, Engineering, and Space Science.
Csillik, I., Naghi, A., Busu, C., Marin, S., Birlan, M., Doressoundiram, A., Hafizi, M., Rojas, G., Hirtzig, M., and Roques, F. introduced the Exo4Edu Romania initiative, titled Exo4Edu Romania: Preliminary results and lessons learned (https://indico.global/event/17913/contributions/156930/), as part of the Exo4Edu Erasmus+ project, in collaboration with three other countries: France, Portugal, and Albania. The project is led by the Paris Observatory in France (https://exo4edu.eu). It aims to provide accessible information about exoplanets and the search for extraterrestrial life in the Universe, with materials also available in Romanian. Concurrently, there is an emphasis on improving skills in STEAM disciplines. The initiative has developed a toolkit that includes a revised database of exoplanets, along with resources and activities also in Romanian, which empowers educators to teach their students more effectively in their native language. Additionally, to achieve the main goal, researchers from the Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy (https://www.astro.ro:8080/news/Exo4EduFeb.2026) organized a nationwide training program designed to equip teachers with high-quality, innovative courses and activities for implementation in their schools. As a result, akin to a massive avalanche, by training 21 teachers, we were able to reach and educate a larger number of children in their respective educational institutions.
The presentation achieved success, with many questions emerging concerning the implementation, potential avenues for participation in the project, and strategies for teachers to integrate the exoplanet (astronomy) course into educational settings to encourage STEAM projects.
Senior astronomers of AIRA presenting the preliminary results of Exo4Edu international project at ZAC 2026
The educational team of AIRA at the "Asteroid Day 2026", an open doors day event
Asteroid Day 2026 - Open Doors Day at the Astronomical Institute
For several years, around June the 30th— which marks the international celebration of "Asteroid Day"— The Astronomical Institute has been opening its doors to the Universe for the general, curious and science loving public.
The "Asteroid Day" event was established by the United Nations in 2016 to highlight the importance of studying small bodies in the Solar System and, above all, the potential danger of a disastrous asteroid impact with Earth. June the 30th was chosen because on this day in 1908, the Tunguska Event occurred. During this event, an asteroid or a comet fragment caught by Earth's gravity exploded at a low altitude above Siberia, causing a series of unusual phenomena and flattening 2,000 square kilometers of forest.
Accordingly, we celebrated Asteroid Day this year on June 26th, 2026. We welcomed children and students accompanied by parents and grandparents, as well as curious adults. We shared stories about asteroids, the night sky, stars, galaxies, and the Universe, while answering our visitors' enthusiastic and quirky questions.
The Institute provides the public with a guided tour created and hosted by our research staff, with the support of our administrative colleagues. This year, we were also joined by three passionate volunteer students currently undergoing training and internships at the institute. Additionally, our partners from Spaceclub (the Astronomy Club of the Military Space and Telecommunications Agency) and the Romanian Astronomical Society for Meteors (SARM) took part in the event.
The tour consists of several stages. In the first part, visitors explored the Meridian Hall, which showcases instruments used in the past for precise observations, measurements, and calculations. Every instrument has a fascinating story, including the meridian transit telescope, the satellite observation camera, and the Felix mechanical calculator. The second stage took visitors to the Equatorial Dome, home to the largest and oldest refractor telescope in Romania. Featuring a 38 cm diameter and a 6-meter focal length lens, the telescope is equipped with a classic photographic plate camera used to track and photograph the night sky. Installed here over a century ago in 1912, this telescope was operational until the mid 1990s.
In the third part of the tour, visitors were invited to presentations on various topics in the Planetarium Hall, as well as to attend a series of children's workshops. These workshops featured activities and practical observation tips provided by our partners at Spaceclub and SARM.
Finally, the tour concluded with a walk through the courtyard. Here, visitors looked at the Sun through a solar telescope, participated at experiments on magnetic fields, and admired the historic architecture of the Bosianu House.Over 150 enthusiasts of all ages visited us this year. We were delighted to host them, share insights into Universe exploration, and offer guidance on pursuing a career in the fascinating field of astronomy. The event was also covered in detail on SARM's TV show "Noi și Cerul" (The Sky and Us), which can be watched on Columna TV local television or online via SARM's social media. If you could not make it this year, we look forward to welcoming you next year. We wish you great success and clear skies!
Dr Ruxandra Toma, Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy, www.astro.ro