RomanianRomanian

AstronomAstronomersers

Beginnings of Romanian Beginnings of Romanian astronomyastronomy

In Romania, we can talk about an astronomical In Romania, we can talk about an astronomical tradition since the first millennium, when the tradition since the first millennium, when the Dacians built a settlement in GrDacians built a settlement in Grăădiştea Muncelu, diştea Muncelu, in the Southern Carpathians,in the Southern Carpathians, which still has which still has evidence of their astronomical knowledge and of evidence of their astronomical knowledge and of a very precise calendar for that time.a very precise calendar for that time.

Until the 20th century there Until the 20th century there were no scientific were no scientific observatories in our country, observatories in our country, even though there are many even though there are many proofs of our astronomical proofs of our astronomical activities. Thus, in 2008 we activities. Thus, in 2008 we celebrated 100 years since the celebrated 100 years since the creation of the most important creation of the most important astronomical observatory in astronomical observatory in Romania, which was built in Romania, which was built in Bucharest; a private Bucharest; a private observatory was also built in observatory was also built in 1908 by Nicolae Donici on the 1908 by Nicolae Donici on the right bank of The Dniester,right bank of The Dniester, in in Dubăsarii Vechi. Dubăsarii Vechi.

Ioan Viteaz (1408-1472; Ioan Viteaz (1408-1472; mentor to Iancu de mentor to Iancu de Hunedoara’s son) made Hunedoara’s son) made his first astronomical his first astronomical observations and, in observations and, in 1445, founded The 1445, founded The Oradea Observatory – an Oradea Observatory – an important site for important site for Renaissance culture. Renaissance culture. Furthermore, numerous Furthermore, numerous schools in Transylvania, schools in Transylvania, Moldavia and Tara Moldavia and Tara Romaneasca helped Romaneasca helped spread astronomic spread astronomic knowledge. knowledge.

The Dark AgesThe Dark Ages

In 1716, the In 1716, the coordinates of the coordinates of the Romanian cities could Romanian cities could be found in the book be found in the book “Introductio ad “Introductio ad geographiam et geographiam et sphaeram”, written by sphaeram”, written by Giovanni Domenico Giovanni Domenico Cassini (1625 – Cassini (1625 – 1712), the director of 1712), the director of the Paris the Paris Observatory. Observatory.

In 1759, Maximilian In 1759, Maximilian Hell (1720 – 1790) Hell (1720 – 1790) built an astronomical built an astronomical tower tower in Transylvaniain Transylvania. . Unfortunately, the Unfortunately, the tower was destroyed tower was destroyed by fire in 1798 and it by fire in 1798 and it was restored in 1805. was restored in 1805. The second tower The second tower was built in Alba Iulia, was built in Alba Iulia, in 1860. in 1860.

In 1762, Ruggeri Giuseppe Boscovich, one of In 1762, Ruggeri Giuseppe Boscovich, one of the greatest astronomers of that time, made the greatest astronomers of that time, made calculations of longitude and latitude and calculations of longitude and latitude and several other studies in Galati. several other studies in Galati.

Stephen Rumowski makes well documented Stephen Rumowski makes well documented research based on the astronomic coordinates research based on the astronomic coordinates of Bender, Akerman, Chilia Nouă, Ishmael, of Bender, Akerman, Chilia Nouă, Ishmael, Bucharest, Focșani, IaBucharest, Focșani, Iaşşi and Brăila. i and Brăila.

The 19th centuryThe 19th century

In 1823, the poet Costache Conachi bought a In 1823, the poet Costache Conachi bought a telescope from Vienna which was later used by telescope from Vienna which was later used by students in their practical studies. The telescope students in their practical studies. The telescope had a focal point of 2 metres and a mirror had a focal point of 2 metres and a mirror diameter of 157 millimeters; it was donated to diameter of 157 millimeters; it was donated to the Iasi Observatory by the descendants of Mr. the Iasi Observatory by the descendants of Mr. Conachi. Conachi.

1828 - 1832 - the 1828 - 1832 - the geographic coordinates of geographic coordinates of the following towns are the following towns are establised: Iaestablised: Iaşşi, Galați, i, Galați, Roman, Bucharest, Roman, Bucharest, Călărași, Calafat, Călărași, Calafat, Craiova, Constanța etc.Craiova, Constanța etc.

1829, 1830, 1859 - the 1829, 1830, 1859 - the first astronomical first astronomical textbooks are written by textbooks are written by A. Marin, Gheorghe A. Marin, Gheorghe Asachi and A.T.Laurian Asachi and A.T.Laurian respectively.respectively.

The first Romanian universities marked the new The first Romanian universities marked the new beginnings of academic education. The first beginnings of academic education. The first professor of astronomy was Neculai Culianu professor of astronomy was Neculai Culianu (1832 – 1915) in Ia(1832 – 1915) in Iaşşi. On December the 9th, i. On December the 9th, together with Professor Stefan Micle, Professor together with Professor Stefan Micle, Professor Culianu observed the trajectory of Venus against Culianu observed the trajectory of Venus against the dial of the Sun. the dial of the Sun.

Dimitrie Petrescu (1831 – 1896) was the first Dimitrie Petrescu (1831 – 1896) was the first professor of astronomy to teach at Bucharest professor of astronomy to teach at Bucharest University and he was succeeded by Nicolae University and he was succeeded by Nicolae Coculescu Coculescu

Another great Romanian astronomer was Another great Romanian astronomer was Constantin CapitConstantin Capităăneanu (1849 – 1895). He drew neanu (1849 – 1895). He drew a precise map of Romania using a pair of a precise map of Romania using a pair of latitude binoculars, two refractory telescopes, a latitude binoculars, two refractory telescopes, a chronograph and several precision watches. chronograph and several precision watches. CCăăpitaneanu and Kihnert published in Bucharest pitaneanu and Kihnert published in Bucharest the work “A Determination of Longitudinal the work “A Determination of Longitudinal Differences between IaDifferences between Iaşşi and Cerni and Cernăăuuţţi”; this was i”; this was the first astronomy work published by a the first astronomy work published by a Romanian scientist in his own country. Romanian scientist in his own country.

After 1990 After 1990

April the 1st 1990 the Romanian Astronomic April the 1st 1990 the Romanian Astronomic Institute is established with three observatories: Institute is established with three observatories: Bucharest, Cluj and Timisoara. Directors: Bucharest, Cluj and Timisoara. Directors: Magda Stavinschi (1990 - 2005); Vasile Mioc Magda Stavinschi (1990 - 2005); Vasile Mioc (2005 – present day) (2005 – present day)

August the 11th 1999 - the solar eclipse has August the 11th 1999 - the solar eclipse has

peak visibility in Romania. To mark the event, peak visibility in Romania. To mark the event, NATO sponsors the first pre-eclipse international NATO sponsors the first pre-eclipse international seminars and an Institute for Advanced Studies seminars and an Institute for Advanced Studies

Romania was an important actor in setting up Romania was an important actor in setting up the astronomic network of Eastern Europe. To the astronomic network of Eastern Europe. To this purpose, Romania created under the this purpose, Romania created under the patronage of UNESCO-ROSTE (and lately patronage of UNESCO-ROSTE (and lately under the UNESCO-BRESCE) the South-under the UNESCO-BRESCE) the South-Eastern Branch of the European Astronomic Eastern Branch of the European Astronomic Society and the Sub-Regional European Society and the Sub-Regional European Astronomic Committee. Astronomic Committee.

PhD graduates from the Romanian Astronomic PhD graduates from the Romanian Astronomic Institute are currently working with prestigious Institute are currently working with prestigious centers worldwide.centers worldwide.

CCăălin Popovicilin Popovici CCăălin Popovici – posthumous lin Popovici – posthumous

member of the Romanian member of the Romanian Academy – was born in GalaAcademy – was born in Galaţţi i on October 4, 1910 and held a on October 4, 1910 and held a special position among special position among scientists of his generation, scientists of his generation, characterized by an characterized by an extraordinary passion for extraordinary passion for astronomy. Through the large astronomy. Through the large scope of his research projects scope of his research projects he has set the foundations for he has set the foundations for solar physics, star photometry solar physics, star photometry and space geodesy in and space geodesy in Romania . He was the first to Romania . He was the first to begin teaching general begin teaching general astrophysics and solar physics astrophysics and solar physics at the University of Bucharest . at the University of Bucharest .

His affinity for astronomy began during his childhood. His affinity for astronomy began during his childhood. The first memories are connected to a sailor’s telescope The first memories are connected to a sailor’s telescope with which he watched the starry evening sky from his with which he watched the starry evening sky from his garden.garden.

With this telescope, the school-aged Calin Popovici drew With this telescope, the school-aged Calin Popovici drew the sunspots he observed. He also noted the great the sunspots he observed. He also noted the great opposition between Mars and the variable stars through opposition between Mars and the variable stars through the Argelander method. He sent his observations on the Argelander method. He sent his observations on variable stars to the Astronomical Society of Lyon, variable stars to the Astronomical Society of Lyon, France where they were published in the Observatory’s France where they were published in the Observatory’s Newsletter and sent them further to Harvard. Newsletter and sent them further to Harvard.

CCăălin Popovici began his astronomy career at the lin Popovici began his astronomy career at the Observatory in Bucharest in 1930, while still a student in Observatory in Bucharest in 1930, while still a student in his third year.his third year.

He obtained his PhD in 1949 in Bucharest , with a thesis He obtained his PhD in 1949 in Bucharest , with a thesis that dealt with issues related to the Sun’s movement in that dealt with issues related to the Sun’s movement in its own local star system.its own local star system.

He began to teach astrophysics at the Faculty of Physics He began to teach astrophysics at the Faculty of Physics and Mathematics in Bucharest . Between 1952 and 1961 and Mathematics in Bucharest . Between 1952 and 1961 he taught astronomy, geodesy and cartography at the he taught astronomy, geodesy and cartography at the Technical Military Academy , where he was appointed Technical Military Academy , where he was appointed professor. In 1961 he moved to Institute of Engineering professor. In 1961 he moved to Institute of Engineering where he also taught courses of gravimetry. The taught where he also taught courses of gravimetry. The taught solar physics at the University of Bucharest and at the solar physics at the University of Bucharest and at the Faculty of Mathematics before 1957.Faculty of Mathematics before 1957.

By commissioning a Cassegrain telescope of 50/750 cm By commissioning a Cassegrain telescope of 50/750 cm in1962, Cin1962, Căălin Popovici initiated variable star lin Popovici initiated variable star observations, using experience gained during an observations, using experience gained during an internship he did in Germany . With these two areas he internship he did in Germany . With these two areas he laid the foundation of the astrophysics department at the laid the foundation of the astrophysics department at the Observatory in Bucharest , thus fulfilling one of his his Observatory in Bucharest , thus fulfilling one of his his childhood dreams. In 1957, after the launch of the first childhood dreams. In 1957, after the launch of the first artificial satellite, Professor Calin Popovici added to the artificial satellite, Professor Calin Popovici added to the department an astrophysics station for observations. He department an astrophysics station for observations. He introduced new working methods for observing satellites: introduced new working methods for observing satellites: determination of geometric coordinates and height, thus determination of geometric coordinates and height, thus studying the earth's atmospheric parameters. studying the earth's atmospheric parameters.

But his main contribution to But his main contribution to satellite study has been the satellite study has been the method of the "circle of method of the "circle of simultaneity", which in 1962 simultaneity", which in 1962 resulted in the first spatial resulted in the first spatial direction in Europe, direction in Europe, between Bucharest and between Bucharest and Potsdam .Potsdam .

During the total solar eclipse on 15 February 1961, the Professor prepared During the total solar eclipse on 15 February 1961, the Professor prepared projects for observing the corona in white, H-alpha and green light (5303 projects for observing the corona in white, H-alpha and green light (5303 AngstromÅ) and also gathering polarimetric dataAngstromÅ) and also gathering polarimetric data..

The presence of clouds allowed scoring five photos of the solar crown with The presence of clouds allowed scoring five photos of the solar crown with the aid of an airplane, the photos allowing the study of the crown’s light and the aid of an airplane, the photos allowing the study of the crown’s light and shape.shape.During the total solar eclipse on 15 February 1961, the Professor prepared During the total solar eclipse on 15 February 1961, the Professor prepared projects for observing the corona in white, H-alpha and green light (5303 projects for observing the corona in white, H-alpha and green light (5303 AngstromÅ) and also gathering polarimetric data. AngstromÅ) and also gathering polarimetric data.

Professor CProfessor Căălin Popovici left this world on January 16, 1977, having trained a lin Popovici left this world on January 16, 1977, having trained a research team of 18 specialists (the astrophysics department of the Observatory) and research team of 18 specialists (the astrophysics department of the Observatory) and written 140 scientific papers.written 140 scientific papers.