Charles Dillon Perrine

Charles Dillon Perrine ( born July 28, 1867 in Ohio; † 21 July 1951 in Villa del Totoral, Argentina ) was a US-born astronomer who later lived and worked in Argentina.

Life and work

Perrine worked from 1893 to 1909 at the Lick Observatory in California. From 1909 to 1936 he was director of the Argentine National Observatory at Cordoba (now Astronómico Observatorio de Córdoba).

In 1901 he observed together with George Willis Ritchey gas nebula around the star Nova Persei 1901, which apparently moved faster than light. This effect is thus concluded that matter moved at high speed towards the observer and thereby emits light.

1904 and 1905 Perrine discovered two moons of Jupiter, known as Himalia and Elara today. They received this name only in 1975, however, before they were known simply as the moons of Jupiter VI and VII respectively.

In addition, he was co-discoverer discoverer or several comets, including the comet again lost 18D/Perrine-Mrkos. The astronomer Antonin Mrkos named in his honor later discovered the asteroid ( 6779 ) Perrine.

Perrine promoted the astrophysical research in Argentina and forced to build a large telescope ( the Bosque Alegre telescope), which, however, was not completed until 1942.

He spent his retirement in Argentina. In 1951, he passed away in Villa General Mitre ( which was later renamed to the original name, Villa del Totoral ). He was buried in the cemetery Cementerio Disidente in Córdoba ( Argentina).