Remembering Aage “Sandy” Sandqvist (1939 – 2026)

Research astronomers worldwide lost a colleague and Cosmonova at the Swedish Museum of Natural History (Naturhistoriska riksmuseet, or NRM) a friend and strong supporter with the passing of Professor Emeritus Aage Sandkvist on 21 June 2026. “Sandy,” once you got to know him, was born in Denmark on 1 June 1939, grew up in Canada, earned his PhD in Astronomy from the University of Maryland, then returned to Scandinavia and settled in Sweden in 1971.

He joined with NRM’s Public Department head, Kjell Engström, the following year as part of Engström’s task force and his 25-year effort to bring a major planetarium to Stockholm. The initial concept evolved to an Omnitheater with a starball projector and Omnimax (known as IMAX Dome today). The completed theater, named Cosmonova and equipped with Europe’s second Digistar I digital star projector system, premiered to the public on 16 October 1992. Even though the project was finally completed, Sandy remained on its Steering Committee for decades.

I first met him during my job interview in March 1991 for my position as Astronomer/Program Producer for the Stockholm Omnitheater Project, later known as Cosmonova, and we remained good friends ever after.

Not only did Sandy do research on how stars and planets form as well as in astrochemistry using some of the largest telescopes associated with European astronomy, but he was also deeply involved with Sweden’s Odin, a research satellite working in both astronomy and aeronomy.

Although retired, Sandy was still active in the astronomy community, and a person who continued to come to his office at Stockholm University’s AlbaNova University Center, often riding his bicycle from his home in Saltsjöbaden, a one-way distance of about 20 kilometers.

One project of deep personal meaning to him was a book he authored about his father, “Pilot in the Danish Brigade in Sweden during the Second World War,” which was eventually published in both Swedish and English.

Sandy is survived by his wife, Karin, three children, and grandchildren. He will be long-remembered for his good humor, kindness, support, and generosity to those he came into contact with.

By: Tom Callen, (Former Astronomer/Program Producer, Cosmonova)