Donici – a Great Astronomer of the 20th Century
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2022-08-15 14:56
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URSAKI, Veacheslav. Donici – a Great Astronomer of the 20th Century. In: Multidisciplinarity in Modern Science for the Benefit of Society, 21-22 septembrie 2017, Chișinău. Chișinău, Republica Moldova: Inst. de Fizică Aplicată, 2017, pp. 34-35. ISBN 978-9975-9787-1-2.
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Multidisciplinarity in Modern Science for the Benefit of Society 2017
Masa rotundă "Multidisciplinarity in Modern Science for the Benefit of Society"
Chișinău, Moldova, 21-22 septembrie 2017

Donici – a Great Astronomer of the 20th Century


Pag. 34-35

Ursaki Veacheslav
 
Academy of Sciences of Moldova
 
Disponibil în IBN: 16 martie 2018



Teza

This communication presents an analysis of the scientific creation of the brilliant Romanian scientist Nicolae Donici, born in Bassarabia at the end of the 19th century. This analysis is also performed in connection with his tumultuous life, marked by Russian revolution, Russian civil war, and two world wars. It is shown that the scientific activities of the scientist are at the interface between astronomy and astrophysics, between the fundamental research and engineering. Especial attention is paid to the valorous scientific outcome from his numerous expeditions for the observation of solar eclipses from various geographic locations around the world, performed during his activity as a researcher of the Pulkovo Astronomical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences, located near the Saint Petersburg. The astrophysical studies related to the physics of chromosphere and solar corona, as well as the zodiacal light, made him famous worldwide. Nicolae Donici obtained unique photos of solar protuberances, determined the chemical composition and the physical state of the solar atmosphere, the dynamic state of the solar corona as compared to queues of comets, since the study of comets is another field of researcher´s interest. He proposed new methods for investigating the chromosphere, including studies outside solar eclipses. More widely, astrophysical investigations of the scientists concern other stars, such as Tauri Orions, which are among the youngest stars in the universe. It is shown in this communication that investigations of planets of the solar system, as well as the moon, were also in the focus of researcher interest. He monitored the Saturn during several years and determined with a high precision the period of rotation of this planet. He investigated passing the Mercury planet through the Sun disk, and measured the diameter of the planet. He discovered for the first time the absence of atmosphere around this planet. Another purpose of this communication is to highlight the importance of putting into operation of the observatory at the motherland of the scientist in Dubasari Vechi, which was actually the first research laboratory in Bassarabia. It is shown that many great fundamental realizations would have been impossible without putting into operation this world-class observatory equipped with high performance instruments, including a spectroheliograph developed by Nicolae Donici personally, it being the best performing instrument among the 7 spectroheliographs available at that time in the world. Scientific investigations during the last years of the scientist´s life at the Observatory of Paris-Meudon are also attempted to be disclosed in this communication, with a purpose to emphasize the self-sacrifice of a man for the sake of scientific progress.