Zdenek Kopal
Encyclopedia
Zdeněk Kopal (ˈzdɛɲɛk ˈkopal; April 4, 1914 – June 23, 1993) was a Czech astronomer
who mainly worked in England.
Kopal was born and grew up in Litomyšl
(Czechoslovakia
, now Czech Republic
). In his early astronomical career, he studied variable star
s and in particular close eclipsing binary stars. He attended Cambridge University
and later went to Harvard College Observatory
not too long before the outbreak of World War II
. After the war he became head of the astronomy department at the University of Manchester
. He later assisted NASA
with the Apollo program as an external expert.
He was Editor-in-Chief of the journal Astrophysics and Space Science
since its foundation in 1968 until his death in 1993.
The asteroid
2628 Kopal
was named in his honour.
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...
who mainly worked in England.
Kopal was born and grew up in Litomyšl
Litomyšl
Litomyšl is a town and municipality in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic. The chateau complex in the town centre is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.-History:...
(Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, now Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
). In his early astronomical career, he studied variable star
Variable star
A star is classified as variable if its apparent magnitude as seen from Earth changes over time, whether the changes are due to variations in the star's actual luminosity, or to variations in the amount of the star's light that is blocked from reaching Earth...
s and in particular close eclipsing binary stars. He attended Cambridge University
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
and later went to Harvard College Observatory
Harvard College Observatory
The Harvard College Observatory is an institution managing a complex of buildings and multiple instruments used for astronomical research by the Harvard University Department of Astronomy. It is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, and was founded in 1839...
not too long before the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the war he became head of the astronomy department at the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
. He later assisted NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
with the Apollo program as an external expert.
He was Editor-in-Chief of the journal Astrophysics and Space Science
Astrophysics and Space Science
Astrophysics and Space Science is a peer reviewed, scientific journal published by Springer. It was first published in 1968. Each volume is published every two months. The Editor in Chief is Michael A. Dopita.-Aims and scope:...
since its foundation in 1968 until his death in 1993.
The asteroid
Asteroid
Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
2628 Kopal
2628 Kopal
2628 Kopal is a main-belt asteroid discovered on June 25, 1979 by E. F. Helin and S. J. Bus at Siding Spring.- External links :*...
was named in his honour.