Alla Genrichovna Massevich

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Alla Genrichovna Massevich (1977)

Alla Genrichowna Massewitsch ( Russian Алла Генриховна Масевич ; born October 9, 1918 in Tiflis , † May 2, 2008 in Moscow ) was a Russian astronomer specializing in astrophysics (including stellar evolution) and higher geodesy . As Vice-President of the Astronomical Council of the Soviet Academy of Sciences and right hand man of Viktor Ambarzumjan she acted a. a. as a link to western associations of astronomy and geodesy .

Scientific activity

In astrophysics, Massewitsch dealt, among other things, with the evolution of stars and wrote one of the first papers on the subgiants (preliminary stage of the red giants ). In higher geodesy - which traditionally belongs to the field of work of astronomers in Russia - she cooperated (and discussed) a. a. with East German scientists, with the University of Bonn and with Karl Ledersteger (Vienna).

At the beginning of space travel , in 1956-57, she organized those satellite observation groups distributed across the former Soviet Union , who had to measure the orbits of the first Russian satellites. These observation teams corresponded roughly to the Moonwatch teams set up at the same time in the USA.

In view of her services to space travel, the main-belt minor planet (1904) Massevitch, discovered in 1972 at the Crimean Observatory , was named after the scientist. He is an R-type - Asteroid 4.5 years orbital period. Her former head of the institute and mentor, Ambarzumjan, was also honored with the simultaneously named asteroid (1905) Ambartsumian (1972 JZ).

Sources and web links

personal data
SURNAME Massevich, Alla Genrichovna
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Масевич, Алла Генриховна (Russian)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Russian astronomer
DATE OF BIRTH October 9, 1918
PLACE OF BIRTH Tbilisi
DATE OF DEATH May 2, 2008
Place of death Moscow