Comet 1957d stands as a career high point for Antonín Mrkos, a Czech astronomer whose work tracked transient celestial objects across decades of systematic observation. Born in 1918 in Střemchoví, he navigated an academic career shaped by the geopolitical shifts of the twentieth century, eventually becoming a prolific discoverer of minor planets and periodic comets from institutional bases in Czechoslovakia.
Early Career and Antarctic Expeditions
Mrkos entered the University in Brno in 1938, but the Second World War interrupted his progress. By 1945, he served as a staff member at the Skalnaté Pleso Observatory. His research focus expanded beyond domestic soil during the 1957-1959 period when he joined the 3rd Soviet Antarctic Expedition. He became the first Czechoslovak to reach the Southern Pole of Inaccessibility. During a second trip between 1961 and 1963, he acted as the leader of the four-member Czechoslovak crew, specifically investigating auroras. A severe incident involving the ingestion of concentrated detergent forced him into a lifelong dependency on liquid nutrition, preventing a planned third expedition.
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In 1965, Mrkos assumed the role of director at the Kleť Observatory. His tenure there marked an increase in photographic observation techniques. Starting in 1968, he refined his methodology, and by 1977, he applied these rigorous standards to the systematic study of minor planets. He established himself as a primary contributor to the Minor Planet Center, maintaining high data output for many years. His administrative leadership extended to international scientific bodies, serving as the vice president of Commission 6 from 1982 until 1985, and subsequently as its president until 1988.
Contributions to Asteroid and Cometary Records
The scientific record attributes 273 asteroid discoveries to Mrkos, including the Trojan asteroid 3451 Mentor and the Amor asteroid 5797 Bivoj. His cometary discoveries include thirteen objects, featuring periodic comets such as 18D/Perrine–Mrkos, 45P/Honda–Mrkos–Pajdušáková, 124P/Mrkos, and 143P/Kowal–Mrkos. He frequently utilized naming conventions to document professional associations, naming 3357 Tolstikov after his Antarctic colleague Yevgeny Tolstikov and 2747 Český Krumlov in recognition of the town near his observatory. He also held academic appointments at Charles University in Prague and the University of South Bohemia.
Fast facts
- Born: 1918, Střemchoví
- Died: 1996, Prague
- Asteroids discovered: 273
- Comets discovered: 13
- Education: Comenius University
- Key employer: Kleť Observatory
- Nationality: Czech Republic; Czechoslovakia
Questions readers ask
How many comets did Antonín Mrkos discover?
He discovered or co-discovered thirteen comets during his career.
What was his role in Antarctic research?
He was the first Czechoslovak to reach the Southern Pole of Inaccessibility and led a four-member crew during the 1961-1963 Soviet Antarctic Expedition.
Achievements
- Held posts at Charles University, Kleť Observatory and Skalnate Pleso observatory
- Educated at Comenius University
- Fields of research: astronomy
