Axel Firsoff
Amateur astronomer and author of unorthodox lunar and planetary books.
Valdemar Axel Firsoff FRAS was an amateur astronomer known for his numerous books on the Moon, inner planets, and extraterrestrial life. He held unorthodox views, such as rejecting the expansion of the universe and proposing volcanic origins for lunar craters, and speculated that mind is an entity of the same order as energy and matter.
Quick Facts
- Birth Name
- Valdemar Axel Firsoff
- Birth Date
- 29 January 1910
- Birth Place
- Bila Tserkva, Ukraine
- Death Date
- 19 November 1981 · 1910 · 01 · 29
- Field
- astronomy
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Axel Firsoff held an MA in languages and worked as a Swedish translator and in the UK Patent Office. He was a keen mountaineer and skier, serving as a ski instructor for the British Olympic Ski Team in the 1950s. His interest in science, particularly geology and astronomy, led him to publish many books on the Moon and inner planets. Many of his works also touched on extraterrestrial life and the nature of the mind. In *Life, Mind and Galaxies*, he speculated that 'mind seems to be an entity of the same order as energy and matter', an idea considered ahead of its time. Firsoff held unorthodox views, including disbelief in the expansion of the universe. His ideas on lunar craters—which he considered volcanic rather than cosmological—were later proved incorrect. In *Strange World of the Moon*, he suggested underground oceans on the Moon, a view most astronomers did not accept, though the book was recommended for its interesting new ideas. A 1977 review of *The Solar Planets* noted that Firsoff queried the established 234-day rotation period of Venus, introduced superheated steam in its atmosphere, and proposed seas at the Venusian poles, warning that inexperienced readers would not know these views were unorthodox.
Reader's Guide
Firsoff's significance lies in his prolific output as an amateur astronomer who wrote accessible books on the Moon and planets, often blending science with speculative ideas. His unorthodox views—such as rejecting the expanding universe, proposing volcanic lunar craters, and suggesting underground lunar oceans and Venusian polar seas—were largely dismissed by contemporaries, as noted in reviews by G. Fielder and Ian Ridpath in *New Scientist*. Nonetheless, his work, including *Strange World of the Moon* and *Life, Mind and Galaxies*, was recognized for introducing interesting new ideas, even if incorrect. His legacy includes a Martian crater named in his honor, Firsoff crater in Meridiani Planum. The article presents him as a figure whose speculative contributions, though often wrong, engaged readers and reflected a mind willing to challenge established science.
Did You Know?
- A crater on Mars, Firsoff crater, is named in his honor.
- He did not believe in the expansion of the universe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Axel Firsoff?
Valdemar Axel Firsoff (1912–1981) was a British amateur astronomer and prolific author who wrote numerous books on the Moon, the inner planets, and the prospect of extraterrestrial life. He carried the post-nominal FRAS, reflecting his connection to the Royal Astronomical Society.
What were Axel Firsoff's most controversial astronomical claims?
Firseoff openly rejected the then-mainstream view of an expanding universe and argued that lunar craters were the product of volcanic eruptions rather than meteorite impacts. He further speculated that mind or consciousness is a fundamental entity on par with energy and matter.
What was Axel Firsoff's day job outside of astronomy?
He worked as a Swedish translator and at the United Kingdom Patent Office, and in the 1950s he served as a ski instructor for the British Olympic Ski Team. His formal education was in languages, earning him a Master's degree in that field.
Where was Axel Firsoff born and where did he spend his final years?
He was born on 29 January 1912 in Bila Tserkva, then part of the Russian Empire, and later settled in Lochearnhead, Scotland, before moving to Glastonbury, Somerset, England. He died on 19 November 1981.
Why is Axel Firsoff a notable figure in amateur astronomy circles?
He is remembered as a maverick who produced a large body of lunar and planetary literature while deliberately challenging established cosmological and geological consensus. His blend of earnest research with bold speculation made him a cult favourite among hobbyist stargazers.
More in Amateur Astronomy, Part 2 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced