Catherine Cesarsky facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Catherine J. Cesarsky
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Catherine J. Cesarsky
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| Born | 24 February 1943 Ambazac, France
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| Nationality | Argentinian–French |
| Alma mater | University of Buenos Aires Harvard University |
| Known for | Designing the ISOCAM camera on board the Infrared Space Observatory |
| Awards | COSPAR Space Science Award (1998) Prix Jules Janssen (2009) Tate medal (2020) Fritz Zwicky Prize (2024) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astronomer |
| Institutions | SKAO Council; European Southern Observatory Germany |
| Thesis | Interactions of Cosmic Rays with Hydromagnetic Waves in the Galaxy (1971) |
Catherine Jeanne Cesarsky (born on February 24, 1943) is a famous astronomer from Argentina and France. She is known for her important work in studying space (called astrophysics) and for leading big astronomy and energy projects.
Currently, she leads the SKAO Council, which is in charge of the Square Kilometre Array, a huge radio telescope project. She was also the first woman to be president of the International Astronomical Union (from 2006 to 2009). Before that, she was the first woman to be the Director General of the European Southern Observatory (from 1999 to 2007).
Contents
Becoming an Astronomer
Catherine Cesarsky was born in France but grew up mostly in Argentina.
Her Studies
She earned a degree in physical sciences from the University of Buenos Aires. Later, she got her PhD in astronomy in 1971 from Harvard University in the USA. Her special research for her PhD was about how cosmic rays (tiny, fast-moving particles from space) travel through our galaxy.
A Career in Space Science
After finishing her PhD, Dr. Cesarsky worked as a researcher at the California Institute of Technology for three years.
Moving to France
In 1974, she moved to France and joined the Service d'Astrophysique. This is a part of the Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, which deals with atomic energy. She built her career there.
From 1985 to 1993, she was the head of the Service d'Astrophysique. Then, from 1994 to 1999, she became the Director of Direction des Sciences de la Matière. In this role, she led about 3,000 scientists, engineers, and technicians. They worked on many basic research programs in physics, chemistry, astrophysics, and Earth sciences.
Leading Big Astronomy Projects
From 1999 to 2007, Dr. Cesarsky was the Director General of the European Southern Observatory (ESO). During her time there, she oversaw the completion of the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and its instruments. The VLT is a group of powerful telescopes in Chile. She also helped start the building of the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA), another large telescope project. She also began studies for the European Extremely Large Telescope, which will be the biggest optical telescope in the world.
Advising the French Government
From 2009 to 2012, she was the High Commissioner for Atomic Energy in France. She still advises the French government on science and energy topics. She also leads important committees for the French space agency and for a European energy program.
International Leadership
From 2006 to 2009, she was the President of the International Astronomical Union. This was a very important role, and she was the first woman to hold it. In 2017, she became the chairperson of the board for the Square Kilometre Array Organisation. She continues to lead its new governing body, the SKAO Council, since 2021.
Her Research in Space
Dr. Cesarsky is well-known for her research in many important areas of modern astrophysics.
High-Energy Studies
Early in her career, she focused on high-energy space events. She studied how galactic cosmic rays travel and what they are made of. She also looked at matter and fields in the space between stars. Her work included how particles speed up in events like supernovae (exploding stars).
Infrared Astronomy
Later, she started working with infrared astronomy. She was the main scientist for a special camera called ISOCAM. This camera was on board the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) of the European Space Agency. The ISO flew in space from 1995 to 1998.
With ISOCAM, she led a major project to study infrared light from different sources in our galaxy and beyond. This research gave exciting new information about how stars form and how galaxies change over time. She continued these studies using other powerful telescopes, like the European Southern Observatory's VLT, the Spitzer Space Telescope, and the Herschel Space Observatory.
Awards and Honors
Catherine Cesarsky has received many awards and honors for her contributions to science. She is a member of several important scientific groups, including the Academia Europaea and the International Academy of Astronautics. In 2010, she received an honorary degree from the University of Geneva.
Other awards and honors include:
- 1989 – Chevalier of the Ordre National du Mérite
- 1994 – Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur
- 1998 – Recipient of the Committee on Space Research Space Sciences Award
- 1999 – Officier of the Ordre national du Mérite
- 2004 – Officier of the Légion d'Honneur
- 2005 – Foreign Associate of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
- 2005 – Foreign Member of the Royal Society of London (2005)
- 2007 – Member of the French Academy of Sciences
- 2008 – Commandeur of the Ordre national du Mérite
- 2009 – Prix Jules Janssen of the Société astronomique de France
- 2011 – Commandeur of the Légion d'Honneur
- 2018 – Grand Officier of the Légion d'Honneur
- 2020 – Tate medal awarded by the American Institute of Physics every two years to non-US citizens for their leadership
- 2024 – Fritz Zwicky Prize for Astrophysics and Cosmology
See also
In Spanish: Catherine Jeanne Cesarsky para niños
- List of women in leadership positions on astronomical instrumentation projects
