Alexandr Boyarchuk (June 21, 1931 – August 10, 2015) was a Russian physicist and astronomer.

Alexandr Boyarchuk
Александр Алексеевич Боярчук
Born(1931-06-21)21 June 1931
Grozny, Soviet Union
Died10 August 2015(2015-08-10) (aged 84)
Moscow, Russia
NationalityRussian
Alma materSaint Petersburg State University
Known forPresident of International Astronomical Union from 1991 to 1994
Awards
Scientific career
Fields
  • Astronomy
  • Physics
InstitutionsInstitute of Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Life

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In 1953, he graduated from Leningrad University. After graduation, he worked at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, which was under direction of the USSR Academy of Sciences at the time. Later, he was elected a corresponding member of the same organization, and worked as an academician there until 1987. From 1987 to 2003, he was the director of the Institute of Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences. From 1991 to 1993, he was also President of the International Astronomical Union.[1][2]

Scientific achievements

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Boyarchuk specialized in studying the physics of stars. He carried out numerous studies regarding the chemical composition of stars of various classes, in particular, he discovered an excess of helium in Beta Lyrae. Boyarchuk also studied the motion of stellar atmospheres, as well as the rotation of stars. He devoted a number of his works to non-stationary stars. He was the developer of a model of symbiotic stars. Based on this model, he obtained estimates of the mass, size, temperature and other characteristics of these objects. Together with E.R. Mustel, he proposed a model for the envelope of new stars. Under the leadership of Boyarchuk, the ultraviolet telescope Astron was created.

Death

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Boyarchuk died on August 10, 2015, at the age of 84 in Moscow.

References

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  1. ^ "Alexander A. Boyarchuk". International Astronomical Union. Archived from the original on August 27, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  2. ^ "БОЯРЧУ́К". Большая российская энциклопедия. Archived from the original on November 28, 2019. Retrieved July 18, 2020.