Aristarkh Apollonovich Belopolsky
Encyclopedia
Aristarkh Apollonovich Belopolsky (Аристарх Аполлонович Белопольский) , Moscow
– 16 May 1934, Pulkovo, Leningrad
) was a Russian astronomer
.
He was born in Moscow
and got his degree at Moscow University in 1876. In 1878, he became the assistant of Fyodor Aleksandrovich Bredikhin
at Moscow Observatory. In 1888, he joined the staff of Pulkovo Observatory
.
He worked in spectroscopy
and discovered a number of spectroscopic binaries. Among others, he discovered that Castor
B was a spectroscopic binary with a period of 2.92 days. Belopolsky was known for his fine instrument making, and in 1900 he built a device for measuring the Doppler shift of spectra. He pioneered the use of optical Doppler shift to measure the rotational rates of distant objects. He was the first to discover that the equator of Jupiter rotates more rapidly than higher latitudes, and that the rings of Saturn do not rotate as a solid mass, proving that they were made up of individual small objects. He attempted twice to measure the rotational rate of Venus, suggesting 24 hours in 1900 and 35 hours in 1911—one of countless unsuccessful attempts by astronomers of that time to measure the length of the Venusian day.
He was a good friend of Oskar Backlund
, and when the latter died in 1916, he succeeded him as director of Pulkovo Observatory. However he resigned in 1918, because he did not like the administrative burden.
The crater Belopol'skiy
on the Moon
, and the asteroid 1004 Belopolskya
are named after him.
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
– 16 May 1934, Pulkovo, Leningrad
Leningrad Oblast
Leningrad Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . It was established on August 1, 1927, although it was not until 1946 that the oblast's borders had been mostly settled in their present position...
) was a Russian astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
.
He was born in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and got his degree at Moscow University in 1876. In 1878, he became the assistant of Fyodor Aleksandrovich Bredikhin
Fyodor Aleksandrovich Bredikhin
Fyodor Aleksandrovich Bredikhin was a Russian astronomer...
at Moscow Observatory. In 1888, he joined the staff of 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...
.
He worked in spectroscopy
Spectroscopy
Spectroscopy is the study of the interaction between matter and radiated energy. Historically, spectroscopy originated through the study of visible light dispersed according to its wavelength, e.g., by a prism. Later the concept was expanded greatly to comprise any interaction with radiative...
and discovered a number of spectroscopic binaries. Among others, he discovered that Castor
Castor (star)
Castor is the second brightest star in the constellation Gemini and one of the brightest stars in the night sky. Although it has the Bayer designation "alpha", it is actually fainter than Beta Geminorum...
B was a spectroscopic binary with a period of 2.92 days. Belopolsky was known for his fine instrument making, and in 1900 he built a device for measuring the Doppler shift of spectra. He pioneered the use of optical Doppler shift to measure the rotational rates of distant objects. He was the first to discover that the equator of Jupiter rotates more rapidly than higher latitudes, and that the rings of Saturn do not rotate as a solid mass, proving that they were made up of individual small objects. He attempted twice to measure the rotational rate of Venus, suggesting 24 hours in 1900 and 35 hours in 1911—one of countless unsuccessful attempts by astronomers of that time to measure the length of the Venusian day.
He was a good friend of Oskar Backlund
Oskar Backlund
Johan Oskar Backlund was a Swedish-Russian astronomer. His name is sometimes given as Jöns Oskar Backlund, however even contemporary Swedish sources give "Johan". In Russia, where he spent his entire career, he is known as Oskar Andreevich Baklund...
, and when the latter died in 1916, he succeeded him as director of Pulkovo Observatory. However he resigned in 1918, because he did not like the administrative burden.
The crater Belopol'skiy
Belopol'skiy (crater)
Belopol'skiy is a lunar crater that is located on the far side of the Moon. It lies to the west of the crater Houzeau, and northeast of Strömgren. Just to the northwest of Belopol'skiy is the crater Ioffe....
on the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
, and the asteroid 1004 Belopolskya
1004 Belopolskya
1004 Belopolskya is an asteroid. It was discovered by Sergei Belyavsky on September 5, 1923. Its provisional designation was 1923 OS. It is named after the astronomer Aristarkh Belopolsky....
are named after him.