Peter Kušnirák

Peter Kušnirák, born on May 22, 1974, is a distinguished Slovak astronomer renowned for his contributions to the field of minor planet discovery and photometry. He has made significant strides at the Ondřejov Observatory in the Czech Republic, where he has dedicated his career to unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos.

Throughout his career, Kušnirák has collaborated with his wife, fellow astronomer Ulrika Babiaková. Together, they achieved the remarkable feat of discovering the minor planet 123647 Tomáško, a tribute to their son. His keen observational skills led to the identification of the binary nature of two main-belt asteroids, 3073 Kursk and 5481 Kiuchi, marking a pivotal moment in asteroid research.

In 1999, he made headlines with the discovery of the Eunomian main-belt asteroid 24260 Kriváň, named after a national symbol of Slovakia. His portfolio also includes the discovery of 21656 Knuth and 20256 Adolfneckař, both of which are located in the Aquarius constellation. Kušnirák's work is characterized by his ability to operate both independently and in collaboration with various observatories across the Czech Republic.

In recognition of his contributions to astronomy, the Flora asteroid 17260 Kušnirák was named in his honor by the U.S. LINEAR project at Lincoln Lab's ETS in the year two thousand. His legacy continues to inspire future generations of astronomers.