Luboš Perek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Luboš Perek
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Luboš Perek (2013)
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| Born | 26 July 1919 Prague, Czechoslovakia |
| Died | 17 September 2020 (aged 101) Czech Republic |
| Nationality | Czech |
| Occupation | Astronomer |
| Known for | Catalogue of Galactic Planetary Nebulae |
Luboš Perek (born July 26, 1919 – died September 17, 2020) was a famous Czech astronomer. He is best known for his book, Catalogue of Galactic Planetary Nebulae, which he wrote in 1967 with Luboš Kohoutek. This book helped scientists understand more about special clouds of gas and dust in space called planetary nebulae.
Perek studied many interesting things about space. He looked at how mass is spread out in our galaxy, the Milky Way. He also studied very fast-moving stars and the definition of outer space itself. He worked on understanding geostationary orbit, which is where satellites stay in the same spot above Earth. He also focused on space debris, which are pieces of old satellites and rockets floating in space, and how to manage outer space safely.
Luboš Perek went to Masaryk University in Brno and graduated in 1946. He later earned his PhD in Astronomy from Charles University in Prague in 1956. He wrote many scientific papers about how stars move and about planetary nebulae. He also wrote articles about space debris and how to protect the space environment around Earth.
An asteroid, named 2900 Luboš Perek, was discovered by his friend and fellow astronomer Kohoutek and named after him. This is a great honor for an astronomer! The largest telescope in the Czech Republic was also named after Perek, showing how important his work was.
Working in Astronomy
Luboš Perek held many important jobs in the world of astronomy. These roles allowed him to help guide space science and international cooperation.
Key Roles and Contributions
- He became a Corresponding Member of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences in 1965. This meant he was recognized for his important scientific work.
- From 1952 to 1956, he was an Associate Professor at Masaryk University, teaching future astronomers.
- He was a Visiting Professor at Northwestern University in the United States in 1964.
- From 1967 to 1970, he served as the General Secretary of the International Astronomical Union. This is a big global group for astronomers.
- He was the Director of the Astronomical Institute of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences from 1968 to 1975.
- From 1975 to 1980, he worked for the United Nations in New York City. He was the Chief of the Outer Space Affairs Division. In this role, he helped countries work together on space issues and make rules for using space peacefully.
See also
In Spanish: Luboš Perek para niños
