From meteorites to MOROI. The Astronomical Institute showed how it studies the sky with Romanian AI

The Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy participated in two of the most important science and astronomy outreach events in Romania:SpaceFEST 2025, held between May 9–11 on the Politehnica University campus in Bucharest, and ASTROFEST 2025, organized on May 24 in Crângași Park. Our educational team brought to the public an interactive booth dedicated to exploring the Universe and fostering dialogue between researchers and visitors of all ages.

One of the main attractions was the all-sky MOROI camera, part of the national meteor detection network – Meteorites Orbits Reconstruction by Optical Imaging. This advanced technology captures the entire sky over Romania every night, helping to study the trails left by bolides entering Earth’s atmosphere and distinguish them from other types of celestial objects. Visitors were especially intrigued by how MOROI doesn’t just see Romania’s sky, but also understands it, thanks to artificial intelligence algorithms running at our scientific computing center. The presentation of this platform also allowed us to make a light-hearted joke with those who asked if MOROI “hunts spirits in the sky” – as its name might suggest in Romanian folklore – by explaining that this moroi is a friendly one, serving Romania through science.

At the Astronomical Institute’s booth, the public could also admire a model of the Hubble Space Telescope – a great opportunity to discuss the telescope as a tool for astronomical discovery. A truly special moment was the chance to observe under the microscope an authentic fragment of the Northwest Africa 869 meteorite – a sample of extraterrestrial rock originating from a celestial body formed billions of years ago. Considered a genuine “primordial geological laboratory,” it preserves within its mineral structure clues about the formation of the Solar System. Under the lens of the binocular microscope, visitors were able to explore the fascinating textures of this cosmic relic and learn how such fragments are analyzed in specialized laboratories.

The IAAR booth was rounded out by a variety of publications, brochures, and informational materials about the Institute’s activity, along with numerous engaging discussions with children, teenagers, parents, and educators.

Published on: May 29, 2025