Antonín Mrkos

Minor planets discovered: 274[1]
see § List of discovered minor planets

Antonín Mrkos (Czech pronunciation: [ˈantoɲiːn ˈmr̩kos]; 27 January 1918 29 May 1996) was a Czech astronomer, born in Střemchoví, Czechoslovakia.

Biography

Mrkos entered the University in Brno in 1938. His studies were interrupted by the onset of World War II, and in 1945 he became a staff member at the Skalnaté Pleso Observatory in Slovakia. It was from here that he carried out his extremely active cometary programme and became the discoverer of several unusual comets, the most famous of them the bright Comet 1957d.

He was the second Czech in Antarctica and the first Czechoslovak to reach the Southern pole of inaccessibility as a member of the 3rd Soviet Antarctic Expedition (1957–1959). The Czechoslovakian flag was the second flag raised after the flag of the USSR. He returned to Antarctica as the head of the four-member Czechoslovakian crew in the seventh Soviet Antarctic Expedition (19611963). He was studying auroras among other things.[2]

He was invited for what would have been his third expedition to the Antarctic but could not participate because of an almost fatal accident. It is thought someone tried to injure or to kill him by adding a bottle of strongly concentrated detergent among his other bottles of mineral water. Since this accident he could only eat liquid meals for the rest of his life.

In 1965 he became director of Kleť observatory.[2] Beginning in 1968 he made photographic observations at Kleť and extended this activity to minor planets in 1977. For many years he was the most regular contributor of data to the Minor Planet Center. He was President of Commission 6 from 1985 until 1988 (and Vicepresident from 1982 until 1985). He was associate professor at the Charles University in Prague and the University of South Bohemia. Mrkos died in 1996 in Prague, aged 78.

He discovered or co-discovered thirteen comets. Among these were the periodic comets 18D/Perrine–Mrkos, 45P/Honda–Mrkos–Pajdušáková, 124P/Mrkos and 143P/Kowal–Mrkos. He also discovered the bright non-periodic comet C/1957 P1 (or, in the nomenclature of the time, comet 1957d). He discovered a number of asteroids (273 in total), including the Amor asteroid 5797 Bivoj and Trojan asteroid 3451 Mentor.

Mrkos named asteroids 6758 Jesseowens in honour of Jesse Owens and 2747 Český Krumlov after the historic town of the same name. Another Main-belt asteroid 3357 Tolstikov (1984 FT) was named in honour of Yevgeny Tolstikov with whom he had explored the Antarctic in his youth. Fellow astronomer Lyudmila Chernykh named 1832 Mrkos in his honour, while Mrkos gratified her and her husband Nikolai with 2325 Chernykh.

List of discovered minor planets

2199 Kleť 6 June 1978
2304 Slavia 18 May 1979
2325 Chernykh 25 September 1979
2367 Praha 8 January 1981
2403 Šumava 25 September 1979
2404 Antarctica 1 October 1980
2552 Remek 24 September 1978
2559 Svoboda 23 October 1981
2747 Český Krumlov 19 February 1980
2811 Střemchoví 10 May 1980
2889 Brno 17 November 1981
2936 Nechvíle 17 September 1979
2971 Mohr 30 December 1980
3003 Konček 28 December 1983
3017 Petrovič 25 October 1981
3130 Hillary 20 December 1981
3137 Horky 16 September 1982
3141 Buchar 2 September 1984
3168 Lomnický Štít 1 December 1980
3257 Hanzlík 15 April 1982
3276 Porta Coeli 15 September 1982
3278 Běhounek 27 January 1984
3313 Mendel 19 February 1980
3324 Avsyuk 4 February 1983
3326 Agafonikov 20 March 1985
3334 Somov 20 December 1981
3339 Treshnikov 6 June 1978
3357 Tolstikov 21 March 1984
3364 Zdenka 5 April 1984
3395 Jitka 20 October 1985
3451 Mentor 19 April 1984
3490 Šolc 20 September 1984
3550 Link 20 December 1981
3571 Milanštefánik 15 March 1982
3629 Lebedinskij 21 November 1982
3630 Lubomír 28 August 1984
3636 Pajdušáková 17 October 1982
3645 Fabini 28 August 1981
3665 Fitzgerald 19 March 1979
3701 Purkyně 20 February 1985
3715 Štohl 19 February 1980
3716 Petzval 2 October 1980
3727 Maxhell 7 August 1981
3781 Dufek 2 September 1986
3791 Marci 17 November 1981
3827 Zdeněkhorský 3 November 1986
3847 Šindel 16 February 1982
3887 Gerstner 22 August 1985
3905 Doppler 28 August 1984
3949 Mach 20 October 1985
3979 Brorsen 8 November 1983
3980 Hviezdoslav 4 December 1983
3981 Stodola 26 January 1984
3983 Sakiko 20 September 1984
3993 Šorm 4 November 1988
4018 Bratislava 30 December 1980
4054 Turnov 5 October 1983
4090 Říšehvězd 2 September 1986
4176 Sudek 24 February 1987
4238 Audrey 13 April 1980
4249 Křemže 29 September 1984
4277 Holubov 15 January 1982
4287 Třísov 7 September 1989
4339 Almamater 20 October 1985
4405 Otava 21 August 1987
4408 Zlatá Koruna 4 October 1988
4552 Nabelek 11 May 1980
4554 Fanynka 28 October 1986
4610 Kájov 26 March 1989
4662 Runk 19 April 1984
4663 Falta 27 September 1984
4671 Drtikol 10 January 1988
4691 Toyen 7 October 1983
4698 Jizera 4 September 1986
4702 Berounka 23 April 1987
4801 Ohře 22 October 1989
4823 Libenice 4 October 1986
4824 Stradonice 25 November 1986
5026 Martes 22 August 1987
5089 Nádherná 25 September 1979
5102 Benfranklin 2 September 1986
5103 Diviš 4 September 1986
5122 Mucha 3 January 1989
5202 Charleseliot 5 December 1983
5250 Jas 21 August 1984
5318 Dientzenhofer 21 April 1985
5363 Kupka 19 October 1979
5418 Joyce 29 August 1981
5425 Vojtěch 20 September 1984
5552 Studnička 16 September 1982
(5573) 1981 QX 24 August 1981
5583 Braunerová 5 March 1989
5668 Foucault 22 March 1984
5712 Funke 25 September 1979
5719 Křižík 7 September 1983
5797 Bivoj 13 January 1980
5800 Pollock 16 October 1982
5801 Vasarely 26 January 1984
5803 Ötzi 21 July 1984
5804 Bambinidipraga 9 September 1985
5865 Qualytemocrina 31 August 1984
5891 Gehrig 22 September 1981
5894 Telč 14 September 1982
5897 Novotná 29 September 1984
5910 Zátopek 29 November 1989
5946 Hrozný 28 October 1984
5958 Barrande 29 January 1989
5997 Dirac 1 October 1983
5998 Sitenský 2 September 1986
6060 Doudleby 19 February 1980
6064 Holašovice 23 April 1987
6149 Pelčák 25 September 1979
6175 Cori 4 December 1983
6221 Ducentesima 13 April 1980
6223 Dahl 3 September 1980
6231 Hundertwasser 20 March 1985
6266 Letzel 4 October 1986
6281 Strnad 16 September 1980
6377 Cagney 25 June 1987
6379 Vrba 15 November 1987
6385 Martindavid 5 March 1989
6433 Enya 18 November 1978
6440 Ransome 8 September 1988
6441 Milenajesenská 9 September 1988
6469 Armstrong 14 August 1982
6470 Aldrin 14 September 1982
6471 Collins 4 March 1983
6481 Tenzing 9 September 1988
6508 Rolčík 22 August 1982
6516 Gruss 3 October 1988
6540 Stepling 16 September 1982
6542 Jacquescousteau 15 February 1985
6546 Kaye 24 February 1987
6550 Parléř 4 November 1988
6556 Arcimboldo 29 December 1989
6581 Sobers 22 September 1981
6583 Destinn 21 February 1984
6586 Seydler 28 October 1984
6594 Tasman 25 June 1987
6596 Bittner 15 November 1987
6597 Kreil 9 January 1988
6600 Qwerty 17 August 1988
6701 Warhol 14 January 1988
6712 Hornstein 23 February 1990
6758 Jesseowens 13 April 1980
6768 Mathiasbraun 7 September 1983
6769 Brokoff 15 February 1985
6774 Vladheinrich 4 November 1988
6779 Perrine 20 February 1990
6817 Pest 20 January 1982
6824 Mallory 8 September 1988
6825 Irvine 4 October 1988
6897 Tabei 15 November 1987
(7080) 1986 RS1 5 September 1986
7107 Peiser 15 August 1980
7114 Weinek 29 November 1986
7115 Franciscuszeno 29 November 1986
7118 Kuklov 4 November 1988
7171 Arthurkraus 13 January 1988
7226 Kryl 21 August 1984
7232 Nabokov 20 October 1985
7328 Casanova 20 September 1984
7332 Ponrepo 4 December 1986
7334 Sciurus 17 August 1988
7391 Strouhal 8 November 1983
7398 Walsh 3 November 1986
7403 Choustník 14 January 1988
7464 Vipera 15 November 1987
(7635) 1983 VH1 6 November 1983
7644 Cslewis 4 November 1988
7645 Pons 4 January 1989
7694 Krasetín 29 September 1983
7695 Přemysl 27 November 1984
7699 Božek 2 February 1989
7701 Zrzavý 14 October 1990
7742 Altamira 20 October 1985
(7820) 1990 TU8 14 October 1990
7859 Lhasa 19 October 1979
(7864) 1982 EE 14 March 1982
7867 Burian 20 September 1984
(7927) 1986 WV1 29 November 1986
(7993) 1982 UD2 16 October 1982
8001 Ramsden 4 October 1986
(8002) 1986 XF5 4 December 1986
8022 Scottcrossfield 10 November 1990
8143 Nezval 11 November 1982
(8152) 1986 VY 3 November 1986
(8153) 1986 WO1 25 November 1986
8249 Gershwin 13 April 1980
(8258) 1982 RW1 15 September 1982
(8267) 1986 TX3 4 October 1986
(8333) 1982 VF 7 November 1982
8336 Šafařík 27 September 1984
8343 Tugendhat 4 October 1986
(8479) 1987 HD2 29 April 1987
(8639) 1986 VB1 3 November 1986
(8650) 1989 TJ2 5 October 1989
9007 James Bond 5 October 1983
9008 Bohšternberk 27 January 1984
(9011) 1984 SU 20 September 1984
(9027) 1988 VP5 4 November 1988
9028 Konrádbeneš 26 January 1989
(9031) 1989 WG4 29 November 1989
(9292) 1982 UE2 16 October 1982
(9538) 1982 UM2 20 October 1982
9551 Kazi 20 October 1985
(9552) 1985 UY 24 October 1985
(9575) 1989 BW1 29 January 1989
(9729) 1981 RQ 7 September 1981
9931 Herbhauptman 18 April 1985
(10026) 1980 RE1 3 September 1980
(10037) 1984 BQ 26 January 1984
(10291) 1985 UT 20 October 1985
(10294) 1988 AA2 14 January 1988
(10705) 1981 SL 22 September 1981
11019 Hansrott 25 April 1984
11020 Orwell 31 July 1984
(11026) 1986 RE1 2 September 1986
(11283) 1989 UX4 25 October 1989
(11477) 1984 SY1 29 September 1984
(11493) 1988 VN5 4 November 1988
(11825) 1982 UW1 16 October 1982
11830 Jessenius 2 May 1984
(11841) 1986 VW 3 November 1986
(12692) 1989 BV1 29 January 1989
(12698) 1989 US4 22 October 1989
(13491) 1984 UJ1 28 October 1984
(13501) 1987 VR 15 November 1987
(13913) 1979 SO 25 September 1979
(14363) 1988 RB2 8 September 1988
(14379) 1989 UM4 22 October 1989
(15222) 1982 FL1 24 March 1982
(15233) 1987 WU4 26 November 1987
(16448) 1989 RV2 7 September 1989
(17404) 1986 TZ3 4 October 1986
17407 Teige 14 October 1987
(18300) 1979 PA 14 August 1979
(18325) 1984 SB2 29 September 1984
(18328) 1985 UU 20 October 1985
(19124) 1986 TH3 4 October 1986
19129 Loos 10 January 1988
(19184) 1991 TB6 6 October 1991
20964 Mons Naklethi 16 October 1977
20969 Samo 17 September 1979
22260 Ur 19 October 1979
(22274) 1981 RN 7 September 1981
(22284) 1986 SH 30 September 1986
(22288) 1988 TR2 11 October 1988
(22307) 1990 SU4 16 September 1990
23437 Šíma 27 September 1984
(24619) 1979 DA 26 February 1979
(24661) 1988 GQ 12 April 1988
24662 Gryll 14 April 1988
24695 Štyrský 16 September 1990
(26807) 1982 RK1 14 September 1982
(27702) 1984 SE1 27 September 1984
(27703) 1984 SA2 29 September 1984
(30770) 1984 SL4 27 September 1984
(30772) 1986 RJ1 2 September 1986
(32774) 1986 VZ 3 November 1986
(35086) 1990 TW8 14 October 1990
(37559) 1985 UR 20 October 1985
(39514) 1986 TV3 4 October 1986
(39515) 1986 XD5 4 December 1986
(46546) 1988 VM5 4 November 1988
(52268) 1986 WU 25 November 1986
(58140) 1981 SN 22 September 1981
(65668) 1988 AX1 14 January 1988
(65686) 1990 TN8 14 October 1990
(85155) 1986 VH7 7 November 1986
(85164) 1988 TG2 3 October 1988
(85167) 1989 RS2 7 September 1989
(100012) 1989 BC1 25 January 1989
217628 Lugh 17 April 1990

References

  1. "Minor Planet Discoverers (by number)". Minor Planet Center. 4 September 2016. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  2. 1 2 "První český vědec na Antarktidě: Výzkum v nejdrsnějších podmínkách na Zemi" by Hynek Adámek, National Geographic Czech, 18 May 2012 (Czech) Archived 20 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
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