Astrophysics

 Luis Enrique Erro

In the 1940’s prestigious magazines like Sky &Telescope and Pacific Astronomical Society Publications (PASP) destined their cover and articles to covering the inauguration of the National Astrophysics Observatory of Tonantzintla (OANTON), later, it was turned into the National Institute of Astrophysics, Optics and Electronics. (INAOE).

Luis Enrique Erro (1897-1955) is credited for founding the OANTON, Erro was an astronomy enthusiast and an important politician and teacher. He is responsible for founding the National Technical School, -precursor to the National Technical Institute- (IPN). As a delegate, he made important reforms to the Constitution’s third article and was also a diplomat in various countries.

As an astronomer he was founder/headmaster of the Tonantzintla Observatory. His passion for variable stars led him to be recognized by the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO). He was one of the most dedicated members, because of this, he became friends with founder and head of the association, Leon Campbell, who would later put him in contact with Harlow Shapley, Bar Bok and other astronomers from the Harvard Observatory. He would receive a lot of help from them, mainly in the design, construction and installation of the Schmidt Telescope, that would later be the pillar of a modern observatory in Mexico.

Erro had the help and support of an unrivaled group of scientists and technicians: Carlos Graeff Fernández, Paris Pismis, Luis Rivera Terrazas, Guillermina and Graciela González, among others. Together, they worked to create one of the finest instruments of their time: the Schmidt Camera which would put Mexican Astronomy on the map.