The Tycho Brahe Prize is awarded by the European Astronomical Society. Inaugurated in 2008, the prize is awarded annually in recognition of the pioneering development or exploitation of European astronomical instrumentation, or major discoveries based largely on such instruments.[1]
She has done fundamental work in the area of dynamics of galaxies, on the interstellar medium in extragalactic systems, molecular absorption lines in the intergalactic medium, and on Dark Matter in the Universe.[4]
His profound theoretical and practical knowledge of optics and his vision for achieving optical perfection led him to the concept of Active Optics which changed the world of large telescopes overnight: No major telescope will any longer be built without Active Optics.[5]
For his crucial role in the fostering of high precision, global stellar astrometry from space, in particular the development of the Hipparcos mission.[6]
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to European near-infrared astronomy, through the development of sophisticated instrumentation, and for ground-breaking work in galactic and extra-galactic astronomy leading to the best evidence to date for the existence of black holes.[7]
In recognition of his central role in the development of the European Southern Observatory facilities that have resulted in Europe's world-leading role in ground-based astronomy.[8]
In recognition of the development of instrumentation, which led to his discovery of the first extra-solar planet orbiting a solar-type star and to his leading role in this domain during the last twenty years
In recognition of his visionary development of X-ray instrumentation, from balloon experiments and the discovery of cyclotron lines probing the magnetic field of neutron stars to his leadership and strong scientific involvement in the ROSAT mission.
In recognition of the role as driving force behind OGLE (Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment), one of the most successful and longest running sky-variability surveys ever undertaken. OGLE has made a significant impact on many fields in modern astrophysics.
For fundamental contributions to the development and implementation of 3D spectroscopy on optical and infrared telescopes and for his international leadership of observatory instrumentation programmes.
For leading the LISA Pathfinder mission which has demonstrated with extraordinary precision the technology required for the future Laser Interferometer Space Antenna whose fundamental aim is to observe low frequency gravitational waves from space. [9]
For his leadership of the SINFONI and GRAVITY instruments on the ESO VLT, which revolutionized the study of exoplanets, super-massive black holes, and star forming galaxies in the Early Universe.
For the development of novel astro-statistics methods and open source analysis tools which have enabled optimal scientific exploitation of astronomical data obtained from European space and ground based facilities leading to major discoveries in extragalactic astrophysics and cosmology.[12]
For major advances in Very Long Baseline Interferometry that led to the first images of the shadow of the black holes in the galaxy M87 and in our own Galactic centre.[13]
2024
Francesco Pepe
For the development and exploitation of ultra-stable highresolution spectrographs which revolutionised the detection and characterisation of
