Gunaras Kakaras

Gunaras Imantas Kakaras (born 8 January 1939, Padaičiai near Biržai[1]) is a Lithuanian astronomer, founder and director of Lithuanian Museum of Ethnocosmology.[3][4] He is widely known in Lithuania and Post-Soviet states as a scientist, advocating and popularising Lithuanian ethnic culture along with astronomy.[5][6]

Gunaras Kakaras
Born (1939-01-08) 8 January 1939
Padaičiai, near Biržai, Lithuania[1]
NationalityLithuanian
Alma materVilnius University
Known forStars Photometry[2]
Scientific career
FieldsAstronomy and Astrophysics
InstitutionsLithuanian Museum of Ethnocosmology

In 1967, he published his first book Šimtas astronomijos mįslių (A Hundred Mysteries of Astronomy).[2] In 1977, together with Algimantas Ažusienis and Antanas Juška, Kakaras released a textbook Astrofizika.[2][7] His field of interests has evolved into unique concept of ethnocosmology. This new idea was widely supported in Lithuania, and resulted in establishing Lithuanian Museum of Ethnocosmology in 1990,[3][4] which was built near Molėtai Astronomical Observatory, and until now is led by Kakaras himself. Asteroid 231040 Kakaras was named in his honor.[4] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 25 September 2018 (M.P.C. 111803).[8]

Publications
  1. G. Kakaras, "Šimtas astronomijos mįslių", Vaga, Vilnius, Lithuania, 1967[9][10]
  2. G. Kakaras, A. Ažusienis and A. Juška, "Astrofizika", Textbook, Vilnius, Lithuania, 1977[2]

References
  1. (in Lithuanian) Astronomijos istorija
  2. "Lietuvos astronomijos istorija". Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  3. (in Lithuanian) Lietuvos muziejai
  4. "231040 Kakaras (2005 EX282)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  5. "Ethnocosmology and Mythology in Lithuania". Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  6. Saukienė, Inga (26 October 2010). "kontaktas su ateiviais įmintų žmonijos atsiradimo mįslę". Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  7. lt:Antanas Juška (1902)
  8. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  9. "the European Library". Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  10. "Open Library". Retrieved 12 September 2013.
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