Prof P Devadas, the legendary astronomer based in Chennai, passed away here on Friday. The nonagenarian astronomer, described as a space scientist who has been honoured many times by the international astronomy community, has made a lot of contributions in the field of lunar and planetary studies.
Prof Devadas, a household name in Tamil Nadu for his efforts in popularising the science of astronomy, is credited with the discovery of Venusian cloud structure, the theory of volcanic origin for the lunar craters and many more path breaking innovations and inventions. He was a close associate of Prof Patrick Moore, an eminent British astronomer who headed the British Astronomical Association.
He was a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and was a member of the British Astronomical Association, the Astronomical Society of India, the Planetary Society and the Optical Society of India, Devadas headed the Tamil Nadu Astronomy Association. He was teaching observational and practical astronomy and astrophysics to school and college students visiting Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre.
What made Prof Devadas famous were his scientific papers and research articles which were published by prominent international scientific journals. He also established an engineering company to manufacture telescopes for astronomical studies. The telescopes designed and fabricated by Prof Devadas wer sought after by educational institutions all over India.
He had set up a giant telescope on the balcony of his house in Guindy and encouraged astronomy buffs as well as students to make use of it. Prof P Iyemperumal, director, Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre, said the country had lost a great scientist in the passing away of Prof Devadas. “He was active even during the last phase of his life and took part in all seminars on astronomy organised by us,” said Iyemperumal.