Mykhailo Lashko, Head of the Laboratory of methodological and informational support of education and science at the Main Astronomical Observatory of the NAS of Ukraine, told Volodymyr Semynozhenko, Academician of the NAS of Ukraine, author and host of the program "About Science Competently", why the modern world risks plunging into chaos if the astronomers stop to work.
Most of us are used to GPS navigation as a given, but few know that the operation of this system directly depends on ground-based observatories. The Main Astronomical Observatory of the NAS of Ukraine has a laser positioning station that continuously refines the orbits of space vehicles, allowing us to use smartphones and maps without any problems. "If we don't monitor the Earth's rotation, one day the satellites will simply fall and burn up in the atmosphere. We will be left without communication, the Internet, and navigation", the scientist notes..
Specialists of the MAO of the NAS of Ukraine prove the high status of the Ukrainian astronomical school. For example, in collaboration with foreign colleagues, they have made a world-class discovery - a new type of objects - exocomets (comets in other star systems). In addition, specialists of the Main Astronomical Observatory study challenges of astronomical ecology, which are extremely relevant in the context of the accumulation of space debris in near-Earth orbit. Issues of future geological exploration are not left without attention, because in conditions of a shortage of rare earth metals on Earth, scientists (including Ukrainian scholars) are actively exploring asteroids and the Moon.
You can find more information in the full version of the article by science journalist Olena Zelenina in the columns of "Hromada.Group".