Scientific Biography of Ukrainian Astrophysicist Mstislav S. Savron (1902–1943)

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15421/272006

Abstract

The paper is dedicated to the study of the life and works of the Ukrainian Astronomer M. S. Sawron, who was a specialist in the field of Stellar Astronomy. The author analyzed the scientific activities of the scientist which were devoted to the systematic study of the Sun; Extragalactic objects, including the Andromeda Nebulae, the Orion Nebulae and large globular clusters; photographing main belt asteroids (Aquitania, Ceres, Iris, Flora, Vesta); photometric research of Novae in the constellations Aquila, Hercules, Lacertae; comprehensive research of variable stars, in particular, as part of the program of work of the Central Commission for the study of variable stars at the Academy of Sciences of the USSR; observation of Solar and Lunar eclipses, including Sawron’s participation in an expedition to the North Caucasus for observation «The Great Soviet Solar Eclipse» in 1936; regular observation of the transparency of the Earth’s atmosphere of long-period comets. Examples of cooperation of an astronomer with leading Ukrainian scientists at the Kharkiv Astronomical Observatory prof. B. P. Gerasimovich (1889–1937) and prof. M. P. Barabashov (1894–1971) were provided; Sawron’s participation in the development of the Observatory instrumental base; his scientific publications were analyzed.

The major milestones of the scientific biography of M. S. Sawron were reconstructed against the background of the establishment and development of the Kharkiv Astronomical Observatory in the 1920-s and 1930-s. The administrative and pedagogical activity of the scientist at O. M. Gorky Kharkiv State University, H. S. Skovoroda Kharkiv State Pedagogical Institute, including on the post of the dean of geographical, physics and mathematics faculties, head of the astronomy department; teaching activity at the other institutions were reviewed. Sawron’s activity during the Second World War was investigated, in particular, his participation in the organization of the Council of Sciences in Kharkiv and work in the Scientific and Technical Administration during the German occupation of the Kharkiv in 1941–1943; the circumstances of the tragic death of an astronomer have been highlighted.

As Professor M. S. Sawron's name is nowadays almost lost to the history of national science, the author has conducted a thorough historiographical analysis of publications on the history of the Kharkiv Astronomical Observatory, Kharkiv State University, and the Pedagogical Institute in the 1930s. The publication is based on documents from a number of state and departmental archives, most of which are first introduced into scientific circulation.

Published

2021-02-04