Lyman Spitzer
American astronomer (1914ā1997) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Lyman Spitzer Jr. (June 26, 1914 ā March 31, 1997)[2] was an American theoretical physicist, astronomer and mountaineer. As a scientist, he carried out research into star formation and plasma physics and in 1946 conceived the idea of telescopes operating in outer space.[3] Spitzer invented the stellarator plasma device[4] and is the namesake of NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. As a mountaineer, he made the first ascent of Mount Thor, with Donald C. Morton.[5]
Quick Facts Born, Died ...
Lyman Spitzer | |
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Born | Lyman Spitzer Jr. (1914-06-26)June 26, 1914 Toledo, Ohio, United States |
Died | March 31, 1997(1997-03-31) (aged 82)[1] |
Resting place | Princeton Cemetery |
Alma mater | Princeton University (Ph.D.) Yale University (B.A.) Phillips Academy |
Known for | Research in star formation and plasma physics Promotion of space telescopes |
Spouse | Doreen Canaday (1940) |
Awards | Henry Draper Medal (1974) James Clerk Maxwell Prize for Plasma Physics (1975) National Medal of Science (1979) Crafoord Prize (1985) |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Theoretical physics |
Doctoral advisor | Henry Norris Russell |
Doctoral students | John Richard Gott Bruce Elmegreen George B. Field J. Beverley Oke Trinh Xuan Thuan J. Michael Shull |
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