Kazimirchak-Polonskaya Yelena Ivanovna General data:
21.11.1902 - 30.08.1992
Place of birth: Selets village, Vladimir district, Volyn province, Russian Empire (now Volyn region, Ukraine)
Studied in: Lviv Jan Kazimierz University (since 1999 Ivan Franko Lviv National University) (1927(8));
Key interests: celestial mechanics, physics of comets, mathematisc, astronomy, theology, popularization of astronomy. ScD Thesis: About Planet-centric motion of comets (1934 Warsaw City); PhD Thesis: Close encounters of comets with planets (1950 ); ScD Thesis: The theory of short-period comets traffic problems and the evolution of their orbits (1968 );
Biography:
She was born November 8 (according to the Julian calendar or 21 according to the Gregorian calendar) , 1902 in the Selets village of Vladimir district of Volyn province of Russian Empire (now Ukraine Volyn region) in a family of small nobleman Eugene Polonsky and his wife Jeanne.
In 1920 she graduated "with honors" women's gymnasium of G.M. Kolenk in Luck city.
While still entering the Lutsk Women's Gymnasium, the girl freely owned French, German, English (haw saying some of the data she studied it later for the candidate's examination), and in polish, she later learned Italian well.
In the 20-30's took an active part in the Russian Student Christian movement.
During 1920-1922 years she worked in the office of Lutsk City Court.
In 1927 (according to other sources in 1928) she graduated from Lviv University John Casimir (now Lviv University) and worked in Lviv Astronomical Observatory. She studied first at the philosophical school, and then natural and mathematical faculty.
In order to become a student at Lviv University, she also has to undergo a male secondary school course (with Greek and Latin).
During the 1932-1934 she worked as a freelance assistant Astronomical Observatory of the University of Warsaw.
In 1934 in Warsaw city she defended a thesis on Ph.D. on "About planetocentric motion of comets" (the then scientific degree of doctor of philosophy of European universities corresponds to the degree of candidate of physical and mathematical sciences in the Soviet system of scientific degrees, although they were not recognized in the USSR at that time).
In 1936 she married a Pole Kazimirchak Leon, who was a scientist and ichthyologist, employee of the University of Warsaw, and the following year gave birth to a son.
During the 1940-1941 she was a senior researcher at the Astronomical Institute of the Lviv University, then worked for a while at the Institute of Theoretical Astronomy under the direction of Gizhitsky F. M. Here she, using the developed methodology and program for calculations on BESM-2, clarified the theory of motion of Comet Wolf I, built by M. M. Kamensky, for the turn 1918-1925, which contains its passage through the sphere of Jupiter in 1922. She continued the research of M. M. Kamensky, completing a study of the evolution of comet Wolf I over an interval of 400 years (1660–2060), taking into account disturbances from eight planets and the secular deceleration of this comet. She studied the motion of comet Barnard (1892 V) for 90 years before its discovery and established that a possible commonality in the origin of comets Wolf I and Bernard is not excluded. In total, the astronomer studied the evolution of the orbits of 15 comets (1660-2060) belonging to different planetary families, taking into account perturbations from six to eight planets (Venus-Uranus, Venus-Pluto). Based on the results obtained by N. A. Belyaev and her, it is concluded that the outer planets (especially Jupiter) with their spheres of action are powerful transformers of cometary orbits, which significantly determine their evolution, moving comets from one planetary family to another, and in some cases, removing them outside the solar system.
Institute of Theoretical Astronomy being evacuated from Leningrad city (now St. Petersburg City) during The Great Patriotic War of the USSR against Nazi Germany, which was part of World War II,, received a "temporary residence" in Kazan city. E. I. Kazymyrchak-Polonska who was an employee of the department of small planets in the Institute was among the evacuees too.
In 1941, during the fascist occupation of Lviv city during the Great Patriotic War, it, at the risk of life, saved Polish officers. As a university professor, she made them a certificate of trainees from the Lviv Observatory so they could leave the city. Rescued aliens, and in captivity her mother and husband were subsequently captured (according to other data her husband disappeared without knowledge). Elena goes to concentration camps to find them. However, this never succeeded in her, once nearly shot her herself. Before the execution, she asked for a prayer, and then turned to the executioners: "You are all Christians. At home, you are waiting for your mother and wife. " And no one shot. They just shouted: "Run!" And she ran along the frozen ground ... She soon found a mother in a shelter. Together with her and her son moved to Kherson.
During 1945 - 1948 she taught the course of mathematical analysis and astronomy at the Kherson State Pedagogical Institute. N.K. Krupskaya (now Kherson State University).
He was a wonderful teacher and deeply educated man in all respects. She instilled students not only love for mathematics and astronomy (in particular,she led an astronomy circle), but also taught them to understand the world beautiful, attracted to painting, music, literature.
In July 1948, a son died of a serious infectious disease, accompanied by a rapid loss of vision.
Since 1948 she worked as a research assistant, after she was a senior fellow in Institute of Theoretical Astronomy.
Also in 1950, she worked part-time tenured teacher at the M.N. Pokrovsky Leningrad Pedagogical Institute.
In November 1951 in connection with the company for "cleansing" in fighting "enemies" released from employment under the pretext of "reduction state". In 1952 she was arrested on suspicion of "espionage" for their ideological and religious beliefs and missionary activities denounced cleric who violated the secrecy of confession, as in "cooperation" with the KGB, and from January to August was in detention will MGB USSR. She was acquitted and released for free for lack of evidence.
During the 1953-1956 she worked as assistant professor of Odessa Pedagogical Institute. She taught physics, mathematics and astronomy.
She back in 1956 in the Institute of Theoretical Astronomy. 60-70-ies. XX century, she has held the position of head of the department of small planets.
In 1950 she successfully defended her candidate's disertation on the topic "Close convergence of comets with planets" and in 1968 his doctoral thesis in physics and mathematics on "Theory Movement short-period comets and the problem of the evolution of their orbits." In the same in 1968 for a series of scientific papers on the topic scientist-astronomer was awarded F. O. Bredihin research prize of USSR.
Since 1964 she became a member of the International Astronomical Union.
In the 1967-1985 biennium. Actively participated in the organization of the astronomical union and international seminars and symposiums.
Since 1970 scientist-astronomer became an active member of society Soviet-Polish friendship (in particular, accompanied by renowned Polish pianist Witold Maltsuzhinsky in his tours in Leningrad).
As a result of life experiences severe shocks and dedicated work she was quickly lose sight. Since 1972 she has been an honorary member of the All-Union Society for the Blind (in particular, participated in the publication of papers on higher mathematics and programming in Braille).
During the 1976-1978 she was head of the research group on the dynamics of small bodies in the Astronomical Council of USSR.
In 1970 she organized two secret missionary circle at home to practice with young people and representatives of middle and older generation (reading and interpretation of the Gospel, report on apologetics, patristics, Church history, discussions on various spiritual and religious themes). Some members of these groups later became priests.
Since 1980 she was active in the history of the Church and biblicistic tradition, being the author 70 scientific works during hук scientific career, as well as working as a translator.
In 1987 she took monastic vows with the name Helen.
In her later years (the period of "perestroika") during 1980-1990 shetaught at the Leningrad Academy of Theology.
She died Aug. 30, 1992 (other sources in 1991) in St. Petersburg City in Russia. She was buried in the cemetery of astronomers in the territory of the Pulkovo Observatory.
She fomouse as Archpriest researcher creativity Bulgakov, who was considered his spiritual father, read a course of public lectures about her life and work in the Leningrad theological schools in the last years.
The main scientific work in astronomy examining the motion of comets. Particular attention was paid to short-period comets, found that the characteristic patterns of movement of comets is their convergence with major planets (especially with Jupiter). 35 studied the movements of short-period comets various planetary families, defined the types of changes cometary orbits. Substantiated the hypothesis capture short-period comets large planets and outlined the general laws of cometary orbits. Also, E. I. Kazymyrchak-Polonska tested the possibilities of transforming almost parabolic orbits, simulating the movement of real and fictional comets based on the use of the numerical integration method. In particular, it has been shown that Neptune (unlike Jupiter) is able to transfer almost parabolic comets to orbits with the opposite direction of motion and with a period of about a hundred years.She is the author of a new computational method, which has now been successfully applied to predict cometary motion.
Together with I. S. Astapovich, N. A. Belyaev and A. K. Terenteva she first studied the movement of waste Leonid meteor swarm (meteor shower with a radiant in the constellation Leo (RA=153°, Decl.=+22°) operating from 14 to 21 November at intervals of 33 years, being generated by the comet 55P / Tempel - Tuttle.) during 1700-2000, and other swarms revealed details of their structure, correctly predicted time of maximum intensity Leonid in 1966.
In 1978, for great scientific achievements and for her work as the USSR's representative in the International Astronomical Union, small planet (asteroid 2006) was named "Polonska" in her honor by Crimean astronomers.
Main publications:
1. Казимирчак-Полонская Е. И. Обзор исследований тесных сближений короткопериодических комет с Юпитером (1770—1960) // Труды Института теоретической астрономии. Л.: Изд-во АН СССР, 1961. Вып. 7. С. 19-190.
2. Казимирчак-Полонская Е. И., Беляев Н. А., Астапович И. С., Терентьева А. К. Исследование возмущённого движения метеорного роя Леонид // Астрономический журнал. М., 1967. Т. 44. № 3. С. 616—629.
3. Kazimirchak-Polonskaja E.I., Beljaev N.A., Astapovich I.S., Terenteva А. К. Investigation of perturbed motion of the Leonid meteor stream. In "Physics and dynamics of meteors. Eds. L. Kresak and P.M. Millman. Dordrecht-Holland, 1968. P. 449—475.
4. Казимирчак-Полонская Е. И. Захват комет Юпитером и некоторые закономерности в вековой эволюции кометных орбит // Астрометрия и небесная механика. М.-Л., 1978. Вып.7. С.340-383
Sources:
1 Колчинский И. Г., Корсунь А. А., Родригес М. Г. Астрономы: Биографический справочник. — Киев: Наук. думка, 1986.—510 с.-С.138-139
2 ukrainians-world.org.ua
3 Літнарович Р.М. Українські астрономи. За матеріалами Вікіпедії станом на 10.06.2012 р. Рівне, 2012.-C.108-113
4 astronomers.ru
