Václav Bumba

14 August 1925 – 13 January 2018

Dr. Václav Bumba passed away on January 13, 2018, at the age of 92 years. He dedicated his life to solar physics and the Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Ondřejov. After the studies, he started his career in 1948 at the Ondřejov Observatory, in 1955 – 1958 he was a doctorand at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, and in 1964, during his stay at the Mt. Wilson and Mt. Palomar Observatories, together with R. Howard he elaborated the first synoptic maps of solar magnetic fields. Later, his scientific interests were focused on the evolution of solar active regions and sunspots. He was the director of the Astronomical Institute for 15 years (from 1975) and initiated the construction of several new instruments at the Ondřejov Observatory. He cared about young researchers and used his contacts to introduce them to the international astronomical community. He continued working also after his retirement. Václav Bumba spent 69 fruitful years of his life at the Ondřejov Observatory. Results of his effort we still see around us.

[via Michal Sobotka in SolarNews 2018: 3]

Update 20 February 2018: 

Obituary published in Solar Physics (2018) 293: 40.