ROMANIAN ROMANIAN NAMES NAMES

IN THE SKYIN THE SKY

ROMANIAN NAMES ON ROMANIAN NAMES ON MERCURYMERCURY

Recently (April 2008) a crater on Mercury was named after theRecently (April 2008) a crater on Mercury was named after theRomanian poet: Mihai Eminescu (1850-1889). Romanian poet: Mihai Eminescu (1850-1889).

Eminescu crater is 125 km in diameter. It is an interesting craterEminescu crater is 125 km in diameter. It is an interesting craterthat seems to have formed more recently than the rest of thethat seems to have formed more recently than the rest of thecraters on Mercury. Chains of small craters are found around thecraters on Mercury. Chains of small craters are found around thecrater Eminescu. They were formed by fragments that werecrater Eminescu. They were formed by fragments that weredetached from the asteroid that formed the crater Eminescu. In thedetached from the asteroid that formed the crater Eminescu. In thecenter of the crater a circular mountain chain can be seen.center of the crater a circular mountain chain can be seen.

Position of Eminescu crater on Mercury

ROMANIAN NAMES ON ROMANIAN NAMES ON VENUSVENUS

The first Romanian name on Venus is the poet Elena Văcărescu The first Romanian name on Venus is the poet Elena Văcărescu (1866-1947). (1866-1947). She lived in France but was born in Romania.She lived in France but was born in Romania.

The crater, located in the southern hemisphere of the planet, has aThe crater, located in the southern hemisphere of the planet, has adiameter of 31.5 km. Even if Elena Văcărescu lived between 1866diameter of 31.5 km. Even if Elena Văcărescu lived between 1866and 1947, the crater received her name in 1994. This crater is at and 1947, the crater received her name in 1994. This crater is at

thetheedge of a mountain range called Saul on his back. edge of a mountain range called Saul on his back.

Position of Văcărescu crater on Venus

ROMANIAN NAMES ON ROMANIAN NAMES ON THE MOONTHE MOON

The only crater with a Romanian name on the moon is called The only crater with a Romanian name on the moon is called Haret, after the mathematician-astronomer Spiru Haret Haret, after the mathematician-astronomer Spiru Haret (1851-1912). (1851-1912). As ministry of education, Haret issued a decree for theAs ministry of education, Haret issued a decree for theestablishment of the Astronomical Observatory of Bucharest. establishment of the Astronomical Observatory of Bucharest.

The crater is 29 km in diameter and is located in theThe crater is 29 km in diameter and is located in thehemisphere that can not be seen from Earth, near hemisphere that can not be seen from Earth, near

thetheMoon's South Pole. In the vicinity of Haret crater Moon's South Pole. In the vicinity of Haret crater

there arethere aredozens of large craters that have no names. dozens of large craters that have no names.

Position of Haret crater on the moon

ROMANIAN-NAMED ROMANIAN-NAMED ASTEROIDSASTEROIDS

The first asteroid named after a Romanian artist, 6429 BrancusiThe first asteroid named after a Romanian artist, 6429 Brancusi(Romanian sculptor known throughout the world) still revolves(Romanian sculptor known throughout the world) still revolvesaround the sun. It was discovered in 1971 at the Palomararound the sun. It was discovered in 1971 at the PalomarObservatory (USA). The asteroid makes a rotation around the Observatory (USA). The asteroid makes a rotation around the Sun once every 3.16 years and can be approached from Sun once every 3.16 years and can be approached from 100.000.00 km from Earth. Its diameter is estimated between 100.000.00 km from Earth. Its diameter is estimated between 4-9 km. 4-9 km.

Asteroid 9493 Enescu has the name of the Asteroid 9493 Enescu has the name of the most famous Romanian composer George most famous Romanian composer George Enescu. It was discovered in 1971 at the Enescu. It was discovered in 1971 at the Palomar Observatory. Located at over 250 Palomar Observatory. Located at over 250 million km away, Enescu asteroid is up to 9 million km away, Enescu asteroid is up to 9 km in diameter. km in diameter.

9494 Donici is named after the astronomer Nicolae Donici. He 9494 Donici is named after the astronomer Nicolae Donici. He

waswas one of the founders of the International Astronomical one of the founders of the International Astronomical Union and the first representative of Romania in this forum. Union and the first representative of Romania in this forum. He dealt with the study of the Sun, noting six total eclipses. He dealt with the study of the Sun, noting six total eclipses.

Poet Mihai Eminescu is immortalized in the sky by asteroid Poet Mihai Eminescu is immortalized in the sky by asteroid 9495 Eminescu. It is an asteroid discovered in 1971 at the 9495 Eminescu. It is an asteroid discovered in 1971 at the

Palomar ObservatoryPalomar Observatory. . It is situated at an average distance of It is situated at an average distance of 250 million km from Earth. It makes a complete revolution 250 million km from Earth. It makes a complete revolution around the Sun once every 3.23 years. Eminescu asteroid around the Sun once every 3.23 years. Eminescu asteroid diameter is not exceeding 6 km. diameter is not exceeding 6 km.

The asteroid 1381 Danubia was discovered on August 20, The asteroid 1381 Danubia was discovered on August 20, 1930 at Simeis observatory. Its name was proposed by the 1930 at Simeis observatory. Its name was proposed by the Romanian astronomer Calin Popovici. It is a pretty big Romanian astronomer Calin Popovici. It is a pretty big

asteroidasteroid approximately 24 km in diameter. approximately 24 km in diameter.

All asteroids with Romanian names. All are located between Mars and Jupiter in the main belt.

ROMANIAN-NAMED ROMANIAN-NAMED COMETSCOMETS

Comets have the name of their discoverer or their first three Comets have the name of their discoverer or their first three discoverers. Until now only a Romanian achieved this: Victor discoverers. Until now only a Romanian achieved this: Victor Daimaca. Daimaca.

Victor Daimaca, was a mathematics teacher in Targu-Jiu. His Victor Daimaca, was a mathematics teacher in Targu-Jiu. His passion was astronomy. He chose to search comets, an activity passion was astronomy. He chose to search comets, an activity that involves scanning specific areas every calm evening to detect that involves scanning specific areas every calm evening to detect comets that might arise in those areas. comets that might arise in those areas.

With binoculars, Daimaca observed on 3 September 1943, a new With binoculars, Daimaca observed on 3 September 1943, a new comet at the boundary between the constellations Lynx and Ursa comet at the boundary between the constellations Lynx and Ursa Major. It was the first comet discovered by a Romanian; it was Major. It was the first comet discovered by a Romanian; it was registered at the International Center in Copenhagen as the registered at the International Center in Copenhagen as the comet Daimaca 1943c. Other astronomers have seen the comet, comet Daimaca 1943c. Other astronomers have seen the comet, confirming the discovery of Daimaca. confirming the discovery of Daimaca.

Less than four months after the first discovery, on 16 December Less than four months after the first discovery, on 16 December 1943 Daimaca found a second comet, but it was simultaneously 1943 Daimaca found a second comet, but it was simultaneously discovered by astronomers Van Gent and Peltier, that’s why it discovered by astronomers Van Gent and Peltier, that’s why it was called van Gent-Peltier- Daimaca 1943 W1. was called van Gent-Peltier- Daimaca 1943 W1.

Comets have been discovered with binoculars. Comets have been discovered with binoculars. Now they are located very far from Earth, at Now they are located very far from Earth, at 21 billion km (comet Daimaca) and 19 billion 21 billion km (comet Daimaca) and 19 billion km (Comet van Gent-Peltier-Daimaca). km (Comet van Gent-Peltier-Daimaca).

Presentation made by the Comenius team from the School no 2 Galati, Romania for the project meeting during from 2nd to 6th May 2011.