Speaker
Description
Mirel Birlan1, Alin Nedelcu1, Vlad Turcu1,2, Adrian Sonka1, Octavian Blagoi1, Simon Anghel1, Madalina Trelia1,3, Cristian Omat1, Octavian Badescu1, Petre Paraschiv1, Catalina Pop3,4, Dan Moldovan2, Diana Ionescu1, Cristian Danescu1, Nicu Dociu1, Liviu Ghergu1
1 Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy
2 Cluj Napoca Astronomical Observatory
3 Ministry of Defense, Space and Radiocommunication Agency
4 University of Bucharest, Faculty of Physics
As the main institution for astronomical research in Romania, the Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy (AIRA) manages a distributed network of observational facilities located in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, and Timișoara. During the last decade, the strategic roadmap for the observational astronomy was based on the renewal of groundbased instrumentation (telescopes, refractors, radio receivers) in the context of new strategy of topics based mainly on emergent scientific domains such as planetary defense, space surveillance and tracking (SST), solar activity monitoring, and stellar dynamics [1, 2, 3, 4]. By equipping observational assets with cutting-edge digital sensors (CCD, sCMOS) the institute successfully bridges traditional astrometry with contemporary astronomy and space science demands.
AIRA is undergoing a strategic modernization process aimed at integrating its facilities into global and European research networks (such as the activities related to the European Space Agency, ground-based tracking networks[5], and international observational campaigns). Future plans focus on upgrading existing optical systems to fully automated and robotic capabilities, enhancing data processing pipelines through artificial intelligence, and expanding the infrastructure to mitigate light pollution challenges. Additionally, emphasis is placed on participating in space situational awareness (SSA) and space surveillance and tracking (SST) programs and developing new observational stations equipped with wider-field instruments. The presentation will give an overview of key activities related to the infrastructure and the new perspectives opened to the development of it.
References:
[1] Trelia, M. Nedelcu, D.A., Birlan, M. - APSIS: Automated Photometric Survey of Inactive Satellites for rotational dynamics and lightcurve characterization, Acta Astronautica, Volume 242, pp. 85-106, 2026 [3] Birlan, M.; Sonka, A.; Badescu, O. and 10 more authors- Berthelot, the new astronomical station in Romania – Romanian Astronomical J., Vol. 31, No. 1, p. 41-56
[3] Birlan, M., Plesca, V., Gandescu, C.H., Nedelcu A., Balan M., Banica C.K., Pandele C, Sonka A., Georgescu T. - Observational asset for Near-Earth Objects, artificial satellites, and space debris: an assessment of concept, Rom Astron. J., vol 28, n.2, pp 69-80, 2018;
[4]Omat, C., Birlan, M., , Nedelcu, A., Turcu, V., Deleflie, F., Botezatu, U. – Re-entry survivability analysis of ERS-2 Satellite - Romanian Astronomical J., vol 35 no 1-2, 2025