Michael Efroimsky (Russian: Михаил Эфроимский) is an American astronomer of Russian origin.His research interests are in celestial mechanics and relativity. He is working as a Research Scientist at the US Naval Observatory in Washington DC.
Michael Efroimsky is a member of the International Astronomical Union and the American Astronomical Society (AAS).
In 2008 - 2009, he served as the Chair of the Division on Dynamical Astronomy of the AAS.
With Sergei Kopeikin and George Kaplan, Michael Efroimsky co-authored a book[1] on the relativistic celestial mechanics of the Solar System.
With Benoit Noyelles, Julien Frouard and Valeri V. Makarov, Michael Efroimsky co-authored a theory [2] explaining the origin of the present state of rotation of the planet Mercury, a so-called 3:2 spin-orbit resonance.
With Amirhossein Bagheri, Amir Khan, and other colleagues, Michael Efroimsky co-authored a theory explaining the origin and orbital evolution of Phobos and Deimos, the satellites of Mars. [3] According to this theory, Phobos and Deimos are remnants of a common progenitor, a larger protomoon destroyed by a collision with a planetesimal.
Michael Efroimsky also published translations from classical Russian poetry.[4] [5]