Luboš Kohoutek

Luboš Kohoutek (Czech pronunciation: [ˈkoɦou̯tɛk]; 29 January 1935 – 30 December 2023) was a Czech astronomer and a discoverer of minor planets and comets, including Comet Kohoutek which was visible to the naked eye in 1973.

Kohoutek obtained a long term position at the Bergedorf Observatory in Hamburg.

After the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia (1968) he decided to stay in West Germany (1970).

In later years, Kohoutek worked in observatories in Spain and Chile, studying planetary nebulae.

[6] Kohoutek discovered supernova SN 1973f, 5 comets, and 76 minor planets.

Kohoutek at NASA Johnson Space Center mission control center during Skylab 4 mission talking with the astronauts on board about the Comet Kohoutek observations