Julien Peridier

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Julian Péridier (1882 – April 19, 1967) was a French electrical engineer and amateur astronomer. For his work he was made an Officer of the Legion of Honour. In 1933 he founded a private observatory at Le Houga, France. After his death, his library and instruments were acquired by the McDonald Observatory at the University of Texas for use in teaching Astronomy.

The 8-inch telescope at Le Houga was used extensively for studies of the planets and the teaching of young astronomers.

In 1959 his observatory was part of an observational campaign regarding an occultation of Regulus by Venus. The success of the work at Le Houga started a five year collaboration with NASA on photometry of the Moon and the planets using a 12-inch reflector.

He was married to Adrienne Blanc-Péridier who was an accomplished author of one-act plays, romantic novels, and biographies.

A crater on Mars is named in his honor.