by croatiaweek
October 7, 2026
in
(Illustration)
ZAGREB, 7 October 2026 – A Croatian scientist who devoted much of his career to promoting astronomy, space research and international scientific cooperation has been honoured in an unusual way – an asteroid in the Solar System has officially been named after him.
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has approved the name Dankobosanac for asteroid 182786, in memory of the late Croatian physicist Professor Slobodan Danko Bosanac.
The asteroid is located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter and takes approximately 5.5 years to complete an orbit around the Sun.
It was discovered on 18 December 2001 through the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) at the Apache Point Observatory in New Mexico, United States. The discovery team included Croatian astrophysicist Professor Željko Ivezić, who is also deputy president of the Adriatic Aerospace Association (A3).
According to the information provided by A3, Ivezić formally proposed the name on behalf of members of the association.
The IAU’s citation for the name describes Bosanac as a distinguished Croatian physicist who made a significant contribution to the popularisation of astronomy and astronautics in Croatia, inspiring generations through his scientific work and efforts to bring science closer to the public.
Bosanac, who died in 2026, spent much of his career at the Ruđer Bošković Institute in Zagreb. He also worked internationally, including research and academic positions in the United Kingdom and the United States, and published scientific papers and books in his field.
He was particularly interested in space-related science and technology. In Croatia, one of his major initiatives was the establishment of the Adriatic Aerospace Association (A3), a non-governmental, non-profit organisation bringing together researchers and high-tech companies with a focus on aerospace research, development and international cooperation.
Bosanac was also involved in efforts to develop Croatian capabilities in space technology and promoted the idea that participation in space programmes could help drive innovation and technological development on Earth.
His scientific work extended beyond aerospace. In 1986, he initiated the Brijuni Conferences, an international scientific meeting that brought together researchers from different disciplines. His academic career included research in molecular and theoretical physics, with around 100 scientific papers and several books to his name.
The naming of asteroid 182786 provides a permanent astronomical tribute to a scientist who spent decades promoting research, international cooperation and interest in space among younger generations.
The asteroid’s official designation means that the name Dankobosanac will remain part of astronomical records as it continues its orbit around the Sun.
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