Agop Terzan
{{Short description|Turkish-Armenian astronomer (1927–2020)}}
Agop Terzan (born Terziyan) (October 31, 1927 – April 4, 2020) was a Turkish-French astronomer of Armenian descent. Known for his work on globular clusters, he is the author of the Terzan Catalogue. Terzan spent most of his life in Lyon, France.
Career and education
Born in Istanbul, he finished his high school from Getronagan Armenian High School, after he received his bachelor's degree in mathematical and astronomical science in 1945 and master's degree in astronomy in 1949 from Istanbul University, where he worked as a teacher of mathematics at the Central Lyceum of Istanbul. In 1965, he was awarded a doctorate of mathematical sciences by the University of Lyon, where he studied under Jean Dufay. In 1980, he was awarded a professorship from the University of Lyon.
Career
He discovered 710 variable stars during the 1960s and 11 globular clusters, including Terzan 5 and Terzan 7 (both discovered in 1968).{{cite web|url=http://www.aras.am/FamousAstronomers/terzan.html |title= Famous Astronomers, "Agop Terzan"|year=2009|publisher= Armenian Astronomical Society |access-date=December 9, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100114035515/http://www.aras.am/FamousAstronomers/terzan.html| archive-date= 14 January 2010 | url-status=live}} Subsequently, he discovered 4430 new variable stars. Terzan also discovered 158 diffuse nebulae, 124 galaxies, and 1428 high proper motion stars.
Professional memberships
He was a member of the French National Astronomy Committee and the International Astronomical Union (IAU).
Awards and distinctions
- 1977: Henry-Rey Prize from the Société astronomique de France{{cite journal |title=A. Terzan received the Prix Henri Rey |journal=L'Astronomie |volume=91 |pages=501-502 |via=SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS) |url=https://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu//full/1977LAstr..91S.501./0000501.000.html |access-date=2024-07-17}}{{cite web |title=Agop Terzan |website=Armenian Astronomical Society |date=1927-10-31 |url=https://www.aras.am//FamousAstronomers/terzan.html |access-date=2024-07-17}}
- 1988: Corona Prize from the French Academy of Sciences
- 2014: Anania Shirakatsi Medal{{cite web |title=Agop Terzan, astronome, la tête dans les étoiles |website=Amplepuis |date=2017-07-28 |url=https://www.leprogres.fr/rhone/2017/07/28/agopr-terzan-astronome-la-tete-dans-les-etoiles |language=fr |access-date=2024-07-17}}
- Ordre national du Mérite{{cite web |title=Cérémonie de remise solennelle à Paris de la médaille Anania Shirakatsi au célèbre astronome français d’origine arménienne |website=Ֆրանսիայում Հայաստանի Հանրապետության դեսպանություն |date=2014-01-20 |url=https://france.mfa.am/fr/news/2014/01/20/20.01.2014fra/1964 |language=hy |access-date=2024-07-17}}
See also
References
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Category:20th-century French astronomers
Category:Turkish emigrants to France
Category:Turkish people of Armenian descent
Category:Scientists from Istanbul
Category:University of Lyon alumni
Category:Istanbul University alumni
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