(meteorobs) Fwd: Dr. Zdenek Ceplecha (1929-2009)

[Ed Majden]

       Very sad news!  Zdenek Ceplecha will be missed by all.
Ed Majden
Courtenay, B.C. Canada.

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Jiri Borovicka <borovic at asu.cas.cz>
> denek Ceplecha (1929-2009)
>
> Dear colleagues and friends,
>
> it is sad to inform you that well-known Czech meteor astronomer
> Zdenek Ceplecha passed away on December 4, 2009, at the age
> of 80 years and 10 months.
>
> Zdenek was famous for the observation and analysis of the Pribram
> meteorite fall in 1959 - the first photographed meteorite fall
> and the first meteorite with known orbit. He, nevertheless,
> contributed to many fields of meteor astronomy, e.g. classification
> of fireballs and meteors, atmospheric fragmentation of meteoroids,
> fireball spectroscopy, dark flight of meteorites, influx
> of meteoritic material on Earth, and others. The European fireball
> network, which he founded in 1963, is still working today
> and the methods he invented are in use. His review article
> Meteor Phenomena and Bodies, which he published with several
> co-authors in 1998, is among the most cited papers in the field.
>
> Many of you have seen Zdenek at the conference Bolides and Meteorite
> Falls this May. He enjoyed the conference and was happy to
> see many friends. Unfortunately, his health started to deteriorate
> in September .....
>
>
> Jiri Borovicka
> also on behalf of Pavel Spurny (currently on field trip in Australia)
>
>