Vera Fedorovna Gaze facts for kids

Vera Fedorovna Gaze (Russian: Вера Фёдоровна Газе; December 29, 1899 – October 3, 1954) was a Russian astronomer. She spent her life studying glowing clouds in space called nebulae and small space rocks known as minor planets. Vera Gaze found about 150 new nebulae. After she passed away, a planet and a crater on Venus were named after her to honor her amazing work. These are 2388 Gase and the Gaze Crater.

Early Life and Education

Vera Gaze was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on December 29, 1899. She started working at the Astronomical Institute of Leningrad in 1921. This was a special school for studying stars. At the same time, she also studied at Petrograd University.

Vera finished her studies in 1924. In 1926, she began working at the famous Pulkovo Observatory. This was a big step in her career as an astronomer.

Her Work as an Astronomer

Vera Gaze took part in important science trips. In 1929, she joined a trip to measure gravity. In 1936, she went on another trip to watch a total solar eclipse. This eclipse could only be seen in the Soviet Union. Many scientists from around the world came to Russia to watch it.

Later, Vera moved to the Simeiz Observatory in 1940. This observatory became part of the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory. Here, she made a big discovery in 1940. She noticed changes in the light coming from a star called γ Cassiopeiae.

Vera Gaze worked closely with Grigory Abramovich Shajn, who was the director of the observatory. Together, they studied what stars are made of. They also looked at the structure of nebulae, which are giant clouds of dust and gas in space. They wanted to figure out how big these clouds were. They also studied how dust and gas help nebulae form.

Vera Gaze found about 150 new glowing nebulae. She did this by looking at the red light they gave off. In 1952, Vera Gaze and Grigory Shajn wrote a book together. It was called Some results of the study of diffuse gaseous nebulae and their attitude to cosmogony. This book shared their important findings about space clouds.

Honoring Her Memory

Vera Gaze passed away on October 3, 1954, in Leningrad. She was buried in a special cemetery for astronomers. This cemetery is near the Pulkovo Observatory, outside Saint Petersburg.

After her death, two space objects were named in her honor. A planet, 2388 Gase, was discovered in 1977 and named after her. Also, a crater on the planet Venus, called Gaze Crater, was named to remember her contributions to astronomy.