Bernard Lyot

Bernard Ferdinand Lyot (February 27 1897 in Paris – April 2 1952 in Cairo) was a French astronomer.

Related Topics:
February 27 - 1897 - Paris - April 2 - 1952 - Cairo - French - Astronomer

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He studied engineering, physics, and chemistry at the University of Paris, and from 1920 until his death he worked for the Meudon Observatory. He became a specialist in optics and created tools to investigate the polarization of light reflected from planets. He invented the Lyot filter, a birefringent optical filter.

Related Topics:
Engineering - Physics - Chemistry - University of Paris - 1920 - Meudon Observatory - Optics - Polarization - Planets - Lyot filter - Birefringent optical filter

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During observations on Pic du Midi, he found that the lunar surface behaves like volcanic dust and that Mars has sandstorms.

Related Topics:
Pic du Midi - Mars

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Using polarimeters he improved the coronagraph he had previously invented, and he was the first to create motion pictures of solar prominences. Also, he found new spectral lines in the corona.

Related Topics:
Polarimeter - Coronagraph - Motion picture - Solar prominence - Corona

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