Suzanne Débarbat

Suzanne Virginie Débarbat (4 September 1928 – 6 August 2024) was a French astronomer and historian of science and technology. She worked at the Paris Observatory for the duration of her career.

Biography Débarbat was born on 4 September 1928 in Montluçon, France. Her parents were Victor Débarbat and Léontine-Pauline Débarbat. In 1953, Débarbat joined Paris Observatory as an Assistant and worked there for the whole of her career. She was a member of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), serving as the president of the IAU Commission 41 (History of Astronomy) from 1991 to 1994. French Topography Association and the French National Committee for the History and Philosophy of Science.

Débarbat was also a historian of science and technology, principally focused on 17th-century astronomy in France and Europe. Commander of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2013) Prix Jules Janssen de l’Information Scientifique (2019)

Minor planet 15671 Suzannedébarbat was named in her honour.