Romanian Astronomers Discover Over 100 Asteroids

A team of nine Romanian astronomers, both professional and amateurs, discovered over 100 asteroids within an astronomic observation mission unfolded between March 10 and March 13 at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Chile.

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These are the first Romanian astronomers to discover asteroids. The team coordinator, Ovidiu Vaduvescu, told a press conference Friday the initiative of the Romanian astronomers is highly important at European level, given that Europe currently has no elaborate program for special observations to discover asteroids near Earth, unlike the Unites States of America which conduct five programs of this kind.

The initiative of the Romanian astronomers is part of the EURONEAR project (European Near Earth Asteroids Research), which was set in motion in 2006, targets creating a network for observing, recovering and discovering NEA-type asteroids (Near Earth Asteroids) and PHA-type asteroids (Potentially Hazardous Asteroids), by using two one-meter automatic telescopes located in both hemispheres of Earth, as well as other resources available to the members of the network.

The Romanian team of astronomers will submit to the International Astronomical Union a list of Romanian astronomers to name the asteroids they discovered. Moreover, the EURONEAR project also targets private initiators, for sponsorships, and the asteroids discovered shall carry the name of the sponsor.

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