Academician Hajibey Sultanov
Hajibey Farajulla oglu Sultanov was born on September 20, 1921, in the village of Shagan near Baku. Upon graduating from the physics and mathematics faculty of the Azerbaijan State University in 1942, he went to the front and participated in World War II. Hajibey Sultanov, who went through a glorious military path to the storming of Berlin, was awarded the Order of the Patriotic War and medals “For Courage”, “For the Defense of the Caucasus”, “For the Victory over Germany in 1941-1945”, “For the Liberation of Prague”.
Demobilized in 1946, Hajibey Sultanov was hired in the astronomy department of the Azerbaijan State University and began scientific research. In 1947, as a graduate student of the Academy of Sciences of the Azerbaijan SSR, he was sent to Moscow State University named after Mikhail Lomonosov. After completing his graduate studies, Hajibey Sultanov started working at the Physics and Mathematics Institute of the Academy, and from 1953 he headed the astrophysical sector established there. In 1959, the Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory was organized based on this sector, with Hajibey Sultanov serving as its director until 1981. From 1981 until his death, he worked as the head of the department at the Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory. From 1976-1981, Hajibey Sultanov was elected vice-president of the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan.
In 1951, Hajibey Sultanov obtained a candidate of physical and mathematical sciences degree, and in 1967 he defended his doctoral dissertation at the Scientific Council of the Sternberg Astronomical Institute at Moscow State University. In 1972, he was elected a full member of the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan.
Hajibey Sultanov was a member of the International Astronomical Union and European Astronomical Society, a member of the Central Council of the All-Union Astronomical and Geodetic Society at the USSR Academy of Sciences, and the chairman of its Azerbaijan branch.
The name of Hajibey Sultanov is associated with the reorganization of astronomy research in Azerbaijan at the present stage. Under the direct supervision and with the participation of the scientist, the work of the Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory was established, modern telescopes were acquired and installed for that time, and the training of highly qualified personnel in the field of astronomy was carried out. His main scientific activities were related to celestial mechanics and the cosmogony of the Solar System. He conducted original research in creating a mathematical theory of the origin of asteroids.
The scientific activities of Hajibey Sultanov received a high assessment. For his services in the development of Azerbaijani science, in 2004 he was awarded a high honor by the independent Republic of Azerbaijan – the Order of “Shokhrat”.
Academician Hajibey Sultanov passed away on March 5, 2008.
Recommended literature:
- Azərbaycanda kosmik elm və texnologiyaların keçdiyi yollar: 50 /Azərb. Resp. Müdafiə Sənayesi Nazirliyi, Milli Aerokosmik Agentliyi ; tərt. ed.: N. İ. Kərimov [və b.] ; ümumi rəhb. N. H. Cavadov ; baş red. T. İ. Süleymanov ; məsul katib V. D. İsrafilova. - Bakı: Parlaq İmzalar, 2024. - 277 s.
- Akademiya simalarda: 1945-2015: Azərbaycan Milli Elmlər Akademiyası-70 il. - Bakı: Elm, 2015. – 462 s.