Guillermo Haro is known in the astronomy world as the "priest of the telescope." He earned this accolade after discovering thousands of stars and several galaxies in the 1950s.
Google is dedicating a doodle for famed astronomer Guillermo Haro. March 21, 2018, would have been Haro's 105th birthday.
Haro's Contributions To Cosmos
Haro was born and raised in Mexico during the turbulent Mexican Revolution. He studied philosophy at the University of Mexico out of concern for his country and to better understand the important political and social changes that was happening then in Mexico.
While at the university, Haro met astronomer Luis Enrique Eroz, who became influential in Haro's decision to change career. After graduating from college, Haro discovered his true calling and passion — astronomy.
Haro began his career as an apprentice to Eroz at the Tonantzintla Observatory in San Andres Cholula in Puebla. Between 1943 to 1945, Haro trained in Harvard College Observatory and the Case Institute of Technology. In 1945, Haro returned to the Tonantzintla Observatory.
Herbig-Haro
Among his most notable work is the discovery of large planetary nebulae Herbig-Haro objects.
These objects are small-scale shock regions that are associated with star forming regions, according to the National Optical Astronomy Observatory.
When newly formed stars collide with the gas and dust around them at a very high speed, the collision form jets of gas and other erupting matter that were identified as Herbig-Haro objects. These objects have eons-long lifespans across astronomical time lines.
Usual Herbig-Haro objects have temperatures of around 10,000 Kelvin, densities from a few thousand to a few hundred thousand particles per cubic centimeter and can contain up to 20 Earth masses of material. There are over 600 Herbig-Haro objects found to date.
More Landmark Discoveries
At his time at Tonantzintla, he was involved in the project that acquired the 64-centimeter Schmidt telescope. The powerful telescope was used for direct photography for the survey of flare stars.
The Mexican astronomer is also instrumental in discovering bright blue and red flare stars within the Orion constellation. Bright flares occur when magnetic fields of stars change. Flares surge across the entire electromagnetic spectrum at random intervals.
Proxima Centauri and Barnard's Star are among the known flare stars.
He also discovered the T Tauri stars, a supernova, more than 10 novae, and the Haro-Chavira comet.
In 1956, Haro has listed a total of 8,746 blue stars and 44 blue galaxies.
Other Achievements
Haro was the first Mexican to be elected to the Royal Astronomical Society in 1959. He founded the Mexican Academy of Sciences and served as its first president in 1960. In 1971, he established the National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics that aimed to support science students in their chosen careers.
"He wanted the country to be transformed," said Manuel Peimbert, one of Haro's students.
Haro's wife was prominent Mexican journalist Elena Poniatowska.
The great Mexican astronomer died on April 26, 1988, at the age of 75.
