Alexander Boksenberg facts for kids
Alexander (Alec) Boksenberg is a famous British scientist. He was born on March 18, 1936. He is known for his important work in astronomy. He even received special honors like the CBE and became a FRS. These honors show he is a top scientist in the United Kingdom.
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Meet Alexander Boksenberg
From 1981 to 1995, Alexander Boksenberg was the Director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory. This observatory is a very important place for studying stars and planets. As director, he led many projects and helped guide how we look at space. His work helped us learn more about the universe around us.
A Special Camera for Space
In the early 1980s, Alec Boksenberg helped create something amazing. It was called the image photon counting system. This system is like a super-sensitive electronic camera. It was designed to see very faint things in space. Imagine trying to take a picture of a tiny, dim light from far away. This system made it possible for scientists to see these faint objects. It helped them study distant stars and galaxies that were too dim for older cameras.
Exploring Bright Galaxy Centers
Dr. Boksenberg's own research often focused on something called active galactic nuclei. This sounds complicated, but it's really cool! An active galactic nucleus is the super bright center of some galaxies. These centers shine with incredible power. Scientists believe this power comes from a giant black hole at the very middle. Dr. Boksenberg studied these bright centers to understand how galaxies work and what makes them so powerful.
Awards and Recognition
Because of his important discoveries and leadership, Alexander Boksenberg has received many awards. In 1998, he won the Jackson-Gwilt Medal from the Royal Astronomical Society. The next year, in 1999, he received the Hughes Medal from the Royal Society. These are very important awards in the world of science. He also won the Richard Glazebrook Medal and Prize in 2000.
To show how much his work is valued, a small space rock was named after him! The minor planet 3205 Boksenberg orbits the Sun, carrying his name through space. This is a special way to remember his contributions to astronomy.
