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André Brahic | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Brahic at theCannes Mandelieu Space Center (2009) | |
| Born | André Fernand Brahic (1942-11-30)30 November 1942 Paris, France |
| Died | 15 May 2016(2016-05-15) (aged 73) Paris, France |
| Known for | Discovering therings of Neptune |
| Awards | Carl Sagan Medal (2001) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astrophysics |
| Institutions | University of Paris |
André Fernand Brahic (30 November 1942 – 15 May 2016) was a Frenchastrophysicist. He is known for his discovery (1984) of therings of Neptune.
Brahic was born in 1942 in Paris. His family originated from thecoal mining village of Petit-Brahic in theBanne commune of southern France. Brahic had stated that many of his ancestors died ofsilicosis, but his father quit the mines to work for the railway industry.[1]
Brahic was first introduced into the field ofastrophysics byEvry Schatzman, one of the foremost astrophysicist in France at the time.[2]
In the 1980s, Brahic became a specialist in exploring theSolar System NASAVoyager program and theCassini spacecraft.
Brahic was a member of theFrench Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission and a professor at theUniversity of Paris. He was also on the imaging team for theCassini–Huygens spacecraft.
Brahic wrote several books, explaining astrophysics to the general audience. His last book "Worlds Elsewhere; Are We Alone" was published in 2015.[2]
Brahic died of cancer in Paris on 15 May 2016. He was 73.[3][4]
The rings ofNeptune were first discovered (as "arcs") in 1984 at European Southern Observatory and at Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory by André Brahic's and William Hubbard's team.[5][6]
Brahic named the arcs, known today asparts of the Adams ring -Liberté, Égalité, and Fraternité (Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity), after the national motto of France.[3][4]
In 1990, the asteroid3488 Brahic was named in his honor.[7]
In 2001, he was given theCarl Sagan Medal.
