Sergey Vasilyevich Shcherbakov (1859, 1932) was one of the founders of the first astronomical society in Russia and the Nizhny Novgorod circle of physics and astronomy enthusiasts. He was born on February 11, 1859, in Balashikha, Moscow province. After graduating from the Yaroslavl gymnasium in 1880, he entered the mathematics department of the physics and mathematics faculty at Moscow University, where he studied astronomy under the guidance of Professor F. A. Bredikhin. During his studies, Shcherbakov worked at the optical instruments store of Shvabe on Kuznetsky Most. In 1884, he successfully defended his candidate thesis on the topic "Equilibrium and Motion of Rigid Material Lines," for which he was awarded a gold medal and received a position as a physics and mathematics teacher at the Nizhny Novgorod gymnasium.

In 1887, Shcherbakov participated in the observation of a total solar eclipse in Yurevets, which inspired him to create an astronomical society in Russia. In 1888, the Nizhny Novgorod circle of physics and astronomy enthusiasts was founded, and in 1891, Shcherbakov became its chairman. In 1895, he organized the publication of the first astronomical yearbook in Russia, the "Russian Astronomical Calendar," which received a silver medal at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900.

Shcherbakov also conducted the first experiments in Nizhny Novgorod on radiography, demonstrating X-ray images at the All-Russian Exhibition in 1896. From 1899, he was a corresponding member of the Russian Astronomical Society and headed the organizing committee of the first Moscow Congress of Physicists. In 1900, Shcherbakov became an honorary member of the Moscow Society of Naturalists.

In 1900 and 1906, he served as the director of the Nizhny Novgorod gymnasium, and from January 1, 1905, he became an actual state councilor. From 1906, Shcherbakov was the director of the Kaluga Nikolaev gymnasium and the chairman of the pedagogical council of the Kaluga women's gymnasium.

Sergey Vasilyevich wrote the textbook "Cosmography," which went through 12 editions, and numerous other publications, including "A Historical Outline of the Development of the Theory of Motion of Celestial Bodies. From Aristotle to Newton." Since 1928, he received a personal pension. Shcherbakov passed away in Kaluga on October 28, 1932.