Described as one of the greatest Mexican astronomers and hailed as the "priest of the telescope", Guillermo Haro would have been 105 years old on Tuesday.
Haro grew up during the Mexican Revolution and while he was a recognised astronomer, he didn't always want to be one, he studied philosophy at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and intended to go into law, but later his path changed.
This is his story:
Mexican Revolution
- Guillermo Haro was born on March 21, 1913. Growing up during the Mexican Revolution and concerned over his country and the changes that were taking place, he decided to study philosophy.
- However, during his time as a student he met Luis Enrique Eroz, a Mexican astronomer and politician who encouraged him to change his path. Haro started working as Erro's assistant at the Tonantzintla Observatory.
- Between 1943 and 1947, he went on to train at observatories in the US, including the Harvard College Observatory and the Case Institute of Technology, embarking upon a career in astronomy.
- "He was a passionate man ... and he had character and decisiveness. He went to Harvard ... and convinced the director of Harvard University," Julieta Fierro, a Mexican astronomer, narrates.
Astronomy
- Later Haro returned to his natal land, and in 1945 started working in Tonantzintla again.
- During this time he met his wife, the pre-eminent Mexican writer Elena Poniatowska. She said she was drawn to his intellect.
- In interviews she narrated how in his childhood Haro discovered, thanks to his mother, on a trip to Cuautla, that behind the mountains there were other mountains, and that behind them, others. He realised the world didn't end in those mountains. According to Poniatowska, this was fundamental in his decision to follow the path of astronomy.
- "Before Guillermo Haro, astronomy was in a stagnant state in Mexico," Arcadio Poveda, a Mexican astronomer told local media.
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