Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Mikhailov
Encyclopedia
Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Mikhailov (1888, Morshansk
- 1983) was a Russian astronomer who was a member of the Soviet Academy of Sciences. He worked at Pulkovo Observatory
from 1947 to 1982. He was its director until 1964 and is credited with leading its post-war revival after the fall of Leningrad.
One of his first published papers concerned the appearance of Halley's comet.
Oddly, Josef Stalin had ordered the destruction of the Pulkovo Observatory
, but then ordered its reconstruction. Mikhailov was pivotal in the work leading up to its official reopening in May 1954. Its research mission included observing and forecasting solar activity as well as various projects that could take advantage of the radio astronomy instruments.
Mikhailov's opinion on a wide variety of astronomy topics was sought throughout his career. In 1959, he was quoted in a Time article about Soviet moon exploration by Luna 3
, which sent photographs of the moon to Earth via radio transmission. "The next step in lunar exploration," he said in the interview, "would be to land a station on the moon without damaging the instruments." He had weighed in that same year on the Cold War space race, stating that "The biggest problem," for manned space exploration, he told a Time reporter in January of that same year," is safe return, and they do not intend to risk a man until they are sure of getting him back alive."
In addition to his career as an astronomer, he translated many key scientific works into Russian.
Colleagues remembered him as "open-hearted and honest and demanded the same of others."
He had a passion for optical devices and reportedly had a large collection of photographic equipment. He is remembered as being conversant in a wide number of subjects including music, literature, and art.
Mikhailov died in his home at the observatory.
The asteroid 1910 Mikhailov
, discovered by Lyudmila Zhuravlyova
was named in his honor. It is a main-belt asteroid.
Morshansk
Morshansk is a town in Tambov Oblast, Russia, located on the Tsna River north of Tambov. Population: 44,000 .-History:...
- 1983) was a Russian astronomer who was a member of the Soviet Academy of Sciences. He worked at Pulkovo Observatory
Pulkovo Observatory
The Pulkovo Astronomical Observatory астрономи́ческая обсервато́рия Росси́йской акаде́мии нау́к), the principal astronomical observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences, located 19 km south of Saint Petersburg on Pulkovo Heights...
from 1947 to 1982. He was its director until 1964 and is credited with leading its post-war revival after the fall of Leningrad.
One of his first published papers concerned the appearance of Halley's comet.
Oddly, Josef Stalin had ordered the destruction of the Pulkovo Observatory
Pulkovo Observatory
The Pulkovo Astronomical Observatory астрономи́ческая обсервато́рия Росси́йской акаде́мии нау́к), the principal astronomical observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences, located 19 km south of Saint Petersburg on Pulkovo Heights...
, but then ordered its reconstruction. Mikhailov was pivotal in the work leading up to its official reopening in May 1954. Its research mission included observing and forecasting solar activity as well as various projects that could take advantage of the radio astronomy instruments.
Mikhailov's opinion on a wide variety of astronomy topics was sought throughout his career. In 1959, he was quoted in a Time article about Soviet moon exploration by Luna 3
Luna 3
The Soviet space probe Luna 3 of 1959 was the third space probe to be sent to the neighborhood of the Moon, and this mission was an early feat in the spaceborne exploration of outer space...
, which sent photographs of the moon to Earth via radio transmission. "The next step in lunar exploration," he said in the interview, "would be to land a station on the moon without damaging the instruments." He had weighed in that same year on the Cold War space race, stating that "The biggest problem," for manned space exploration, he told a Time reporter in January of that same year," is safe return, and they do not intend to risk a man until they are sure of getting him back alive."
In addition to his career as an astronomer, he translated many key scientific works into Russian.
Colleagues remembered him as "open-hearted and honest and demanded the same of others."
Personal Life and Legacy
Mikhailov married Zdenka J. Kadla in 1946. She was also an astronomer who worked at the observatory and published work about the moon. The couple had one son.He had a passion for optical devices and reportedly had a large collection of photographic equipment. He is remembered as being conversant in a wide number of subjects including music, literature, and art.
Mikhailov died in his home at the observatory.
The asteroid 1910 Mikhailov
1910 Mikhailov
1910 Mikhailov is an asteroid discovered by Lyudmila Zhuravlyova October 8, 1972 at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory.The asteroid was named in honor of...
, discovered by Lyudmila Zhuravlyova
Lyudmila Zhuravlyova
Lyudmila Vasilyevna Zhuravleva is a Soviet, Russian and Ukrainian astronomer.She works at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory.She also serves as president...
was named in his honor. It is a main-belt asteroid.