Question: Facts:   - prizes: cospar space science award -lrb- 1998 -rrb-    - thesis url: http://hollis.harvard.edu/?itemid=&amp;#124;library/m/aleph&amp;#124;003707419    - known for: designing observatory the isocam camera on board the infrared space    - caption: catherine j. cesarsky    - thesis year: 1971    - french|field: astronomer      - work institution: european southern observatory germany    - birth date: 24 february 1943    - thesis title: interactions galaxy of cosmic rays with hydromagnetic waves in the    - name: catherine j. cesarsky    - nationality: 20px    - image: catherine cesarsky.jpg    - birth place: ambazac , france   Based on these bullet points, write a short biography describing the life of catherine cesarsky .
Answer:
catherine jeanne cesarsky -lrb- born 24 february 1943 -rrb- is a french astronomer , known for her successful research activities in several central areas of modern astrophysics .she was formerly president of the international astronomical union and the director general of the european southern observatory .