View source for Naum Idelson

{{Short description|Soviet theoretical astronomer}}
{{Expand Russian|topic=bio|Идельсон, Наум Ильич|date=March 2009}}
'''Naum Ilyich Idelson''' ({{langx|ru|Наум Ильич Идельсон}}) (March 1(13), 1885, [[Saint Petersburg]] - July 14, 1951, [[Saint Petersburg|Leningrad]]) was a [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[Theoretical astrophysics|theoretical astronomer]] and expert in [[history]] of [[physics]] and [[mathematics]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cometography.com/biographies/bio_i.html |title=Who's Who in Comet History: I |first=Gary W. |last=Kronk |year=2006 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802105210/http://www.cometography.com/biographies/bio_i.html |archivedate=2009-08-02 }}</ref>{{self-published inline|date=March 2012}}

The crater [[Idel'son (crater)|Idelson]] on the [[Moon]] is named after him.
<ref>
{{cite web
 |url=http://www.iap.fr/InformationCommunication/ArticlesGrandPublic/Soleil/CDLune/USGS/USGS_Luna/mooncrat.html 
 |title=USGS Astro: Planetary Nomenclature - Moon Nomenclature Crater 
 |publisher=www.iap.fr 
 |accessdate=2008-10-03 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303183757/http://www.iap.fr/InformationCommunication/ArticlesGrandPublic/Soleil/CDLune/USGS/USGS_Luna/mooncrat.html 
 |archivedate=2016-03-03 
}}</ref>

== Life ==
Naum Ilyich Idelson was born on March 13, 1885, to a mathematician who wanted his son to pursue a career in law. He studied at Saint Petersburg State University and graduated with a degree in mathematics and law in 1909. He worked as a lawyer for a short time, and then began teaching mathematics in high school.

In 1918, Idelson received a position in the Computing Department of the [[Peter Lesgaft|P. F. Lesgaft]] Institute, then headed by [[Nikolai Morozov (revolutionary)|N. A. Morozov]]. In this department, he worked on tables of [[Solar eclipse|solar eclipses]] for the [[chronology]] of Russian history.

In 1919, the State Calculation Institute was founded, and Idelson was appointed head of the group compiling [[Nautical almanac|astronomical almanac]]. In 1923, it merged with the Astronomical-Geodetic Institute, forming the Leningrad Astronomical Institute. Idelson became the director of the institute and assistant to [[Boris Numerov|B. V. Numerov]].

In 1920, Idelson also worked in the [[Pulkovo Observatory]], teaching mathematics, mechanics and geophysics. In 1926 he also worked in the Leningrad university, and from 1933 he was a professor of astronomy. He received his doctorate there in 1936.

During the [[Great Purge|great Stalinist terror]], he was arrested on February 10, 1937, but eventually, with a rare exception, he was acquitted, which allowed him to resume his scientific activities in 1939.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{DSB
|first=P.G.
|last=Kuliovsky
|title=Idelson, Naum Ilich
|volume=7
|pages=6-7
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Idelson, Naum}}
[[Category:Russian astronomers]]
[[Category:1885 births]]
[[Category:1951 deaths]]
[[Category:Scientists from Saint Petersburg]]
[[Category:Saint Petersburg State University alumni]]


{{Russia-scientist-stub}}
{{Europe-astronomer-stub}}