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Mircea Pteancu

11 Mai 2008 16:29



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Mister Gaina

I'm interested in the History of Astronomy,and even more in the History of the Telescope.About a century ago ,there use to be in your country a free-lance astronomer ,Nicolae Donici,living in Dubasari.Donici erected an observatory, bought the instruments and run the observational programms,all on his own expenses.Donici was interested in Solar Astronomy and in Planetology,he made expeditions to observe solar eclipses,he was member of IAU .For this purpose, he was using a 10cm refractor at F/60.More than this,Donici was doing visual and spectroscopic observations to clarify the existance and (if) the nature of Mercur's atmosphere.This is very important because this is setting Donici as one of the first astronomers doing researches in Astrophysics,at a time when this science was at his very outset.
Question:there are any remains of the Donici Observatory,as building or instruments ?There is any reminder in the libraries,museums and manuals of your country about this brilliant scientist ?
More questions:there are amateur astronomers,there is any Astronomy Club in Moldova,please?
 I took notice you have a hard time to express yourself in Romanian,so I hope you don't mind I was writting to you in English.Regards,Mircea