Frank K. Edmondson
Encyclopedia
Frank K. Edmondson was an American
astronomer
.
and grew up in Seymour, Indiana
. He graduated from Indiana University
in 1933 and received a fellowship to work at Lowell Observatory
in Flagstaff, Arizona
, where he stayed until 1935, working as an observing assistant to Clyde Tombaugh
, discoverer of the dwarf planet
Pluto
. After earning his Ph.D. under the direction of Bart Bok
at Harvard University
in 1937, Edmondson returned to Indiana University as a faculty member in the department of astronomy. In 1944, he became the department's chair, a position he held until 1978.
An early accomplishment of Edmondson's was the creation of the Indiana Asteroid Program
, a photographic program to locate asteroid
s that were "lost" when systematic observations were interrupted by World War II
. He also negotiated the donation of the privately-owned Goethe Link Observatory
near Brooklyn, Indiana
to Indiana University. Nearly 7000 photographic plate
s for asteroid orbit studies were taken with a 10-inch astrograph
ic camera at the Goethe Link Observatory. These plates are now archived at Lowell Observatory.
In addition to pursuing studies in stellar
kinematics
, galactic
structure, asteroid astrometry
and the history of astronomy, Edmondson served as Program Director for Astronomy of the National Science Foundation
(1956–1957), treasurer of the American Astronomical Society
(1954–1975) and statistical advisor to Dr. Alfred Kinsey
during his studies of human sexuality. He also advised in the development and site selection of the National Optical Astronomy Observatories, which include the Kitt Peak National Observatory
in Arizona
, the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory
in Chile
and the National Solar Observatory
in New Mexico
. He was also instrumental in creating the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy
(AURA), a consortium of 38 U. S. astronomical institutions and seven foreign affiliates, that manages the three observatories plus the Space Telescope Science Institute
which directs research with the Hubble Space Telescope
. He was AURA's president from 1962 to 1965. He was a member of the Minor Planet Commission of the International Astronomical Union
(IAU), and was its president from 1970 to 1973. He chaired the United States National Committee of the IAU from 1963 to 1964.
After his retirement from Indiana University in 1983, Edmondson devoted himself to compiling histories of AURA and the Indiana University astronomy department. The asteroid 1761 Edmondson
is named for him.
. Their children are Margaret Edmondson Olson, married to astronomer Edward Olson, and Frank Edmondson, Jr.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
.
Life and career
Edmondson was born in Milwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
and grew up in Seymour, Indiana
Seymour, Indiana
Seymour was the site of the World's First Train Robbery, committed by the local Reno Gang, on October 6, 1866 just east of town. The gang was put into prison for the robbery, and later hanged at Hangman's Crossing outside of town....
. He graduated from Indiana University
Indiana University Bloomington
Indiana University Bloomington is a public research university located in Bloomington, Indiana, in the United States. IU Bloomington is the flagship campus of the Indiana University system. Being the flagship campus, IU Bloomington is often referred to simply as IU or Indiana...
in 1933 and received a fellowship to work at Lowell Observatory
Lowell Observatory
Lowell Observatory is an astronomical observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. Lowell Observatory was established in 1894, placing it among the oldest observatories in the United States, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965....
in Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff is a city located in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States. In 2010, the city's population was 65,870. The population of the Metropolitan Statistical Area was at 134,421 in 2010. It is the county seat of Coconino County...
, where he stayed until 1935, working as an observing assistant to Clyde Tombaugh
Clyde Tombaugh
Clyde William Tombaugh was an American astronomer. Although he is best known for discovering the dwarf planet Pluto in 1930, the first object to be discovered in what would later be identified as the Kuiper Belt, Tombaugh also discovered many asteroids; he also called for serious scientific...
, discoverer of the dwarf planet
Dwarf planet
A dwarf planet, as defined by the International Astronomical Union , is a celestial body orbiting the Sun that is massive enough to be spherical as a result of its own gravity but has not cleared its neighboring region of planetesimals and is not a satellite...
Pluto
Pluto
Pluto, formal designation 134340 Pluto, is the second-most-massive known dwarf planet in the Solar System and the tenth-most-massive body observed directly orbiting the Sun...
. After earning his Ph.D. under the direction of Bart Bok
Bart Bok
Bart Jan Bok was a Dutch-American astronomer.He was born in the Netherlands, but spent a good deal of his childhood days growing up in what was then known as the Dutch East Indies. He was educated at the Leiden and Groningen Universities. In 1929 he married fellow astronomer Dr...
at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1937, Edmondson returned to Indiana University as a faculty member in the department of astronomy. In 1944, he became the department's chair, a position he held until 1978.
An early accomplishment of Edmondson's was the creation of the Indiana Asteroid Program
Indiana Asteroid Program
The Indiana Asteroid Program was a program of photographic asteroid observations made with a 10-inch f/6.5 Cooke triplet astrographic camera at Goethe Link Observatory near Brooklyn, Indiana. The program was initiated by Frank K. Edmondson of Indiana University in 1949 and continued until 1967...
, a photographic program to locate asteroid
Asteroid
Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
s that were "lost" when systematic observations were interrupted by World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He also negotiated the donation of the privately-owned Goethe Link Observatory
Goethe Link Observatory
The Goethe Link Observatory is an astronomical observatory near Brooklyn, Indiana , owned by Indiana University and operated by the Indiana Astronomical Society. It is named in honour of Dr. Goethe Link, an Indianapolis surgeon, who built it with his private funds. Construction of the observatory...
near Brooklyn, Indiana
Brooklyn, Indiana
Brooklyn is a town in Clay Township, Morgan County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,598 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Brooklyn is located at ....
to Indiana University. Nearly 7000 photographic plate
Photographic plate
Photographic plates preceded photographic film as a means of photography. A light-sensitive emulsion of silver salts was applied to a glass plate. This form of photographic material largely faded from the consumer market in the early years of the 20th century, as more convenient and less fragile...
s for asteroid orbit studies were taken with a 10-inch astrograph
Astrograph
An astrograph is a telescope designed for the sole purpose of astrophotography. Astrographs are usually used in wide field surveys of the night sky as well as detection of objects such as asteroids, meteors, and comets.-Design:...
ic camera at the Goethe Link Observatory. These plates are now archived at Lowell Observatory.
In addition to pursuing studies in stellar
Star
A star is a massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by gravity. At the end of its lifetime, a star can also contain a proportion of degenerate matter. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the energy on Earth...
kinematics
Kinematics
Kinematics is the branch of classical mechanics that describes the motion of bodies and systems without consideration of the forces that cause the motion....
, galactic
Galactic
Galactic is a funk and jazz jam band from New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.-Origins and background:Originally formed in 1994 as an octet and including singer Chris Lane and guitarist Rob Gowen, the group was soon pared down to a sextet of: guitarist Jeff Raines, bassist Robert Mercurio,...
structure, asteroid astrometry
Astrometry
Astrometry is the branch of astronomy that involves precise measurements of the positions and movements of stars and other celestial bodies. The information obtained by astrometric measurements provides information on the kinematics and physical origin of our Solar System and our Galaxy, the Milky...
and the history of astronomy, Edmondson served as Program Director for Astronomy of the National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
(1956–1957), treasurer of the American Astronomical Society
American Astronomical Society
The American Astronomical Society is an American society of professional astronomers and other interested individuals, headquartered in Washington, DC...
(1954–1975) and statistical advisor to Dr. Alfred Kinsey
Alfred Kinsey
Alfred Charles Kinsey was an American biologist and professor of entomology and zoology, who in 1947 founded the Institute for Sex Research at Indiana University, now known as the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, as well as producing the Kinsey Reports and the Kinsey...
during his studies of human sexuality. He also advised in the development and site selection of the National Optical Astronomy Observatories, which include the Kitt Peak National Observatory
Kitt Peak National Observatory
The Kitt Peak National Observatory is a United States astronomical observatory located on 2,096 m Kitt Peak of the Quinlan Mountains in the Arizona-Sonoran Desert on the Tohono O'odham Nation, southwest of Tucson...
in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory
Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory
The Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory is a complex of astronomical telescopes and instruments located at 30.169 S, 70.804 W, approximately 80 km to the East of La Serena, Chile at an altitude of 2200 metres. The complex is part of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory along with Kitt...
in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
and the National Solar Observatory
National Solar Observatory
The mission of the National Solar Observatory is to advance knowledge of the Sun, both as an astronomical object and as the dominant external influence on Earth, by providing forefront observational opportunities to the research community...
in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. He was also instrumental in creating the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy
Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy
The Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy is a consortium of universities and other institutions that operates astronomical observatories and telescopes...
(AURA), a consortium of 38 U. S. astronomical institutions and seven foreign affiliates, that manages the three observatories plus the Space Telescope Science Institute
Space Telescope Science Institute
The Space Telescope Science Institute is the science operations center for the Hubble Space Telescope and for the James Webb Space Telescope...
which directs research with the Hubble Space Telescope
Hubble Space Telescope
The Hubble Space Telescope is a space telescope that was carried into orbit by a Space Shuttle in 1990 and remains in operation. A 2.4 meter aperture telescope in low Earth orbit, Hubble's four main instruments observe in the near ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared...
. He was AURA's president from 1962 to 1965. He was a member of the Minor Planet Commission of the International Astronomical Union
International Astronomical Union
The International Astronomical Union IAU is a collection of professional astronomers, at the Ph.D. level and beyond, active in professional research and education in astronomy...
(IAU), and was its president from 1970 to 1973. He chaired the United States National Committee of the IAU from 1963 to 1964.
After his retirement from Indiana University in 1983, Edmondson devoted himself to compiling histories of AURA and the Indiana University astronomy department. The asteroid 1761 Edmondson
1761 Edmondson
1761 Edmondson is a main-belt asteroid discovered March 30, 1952 by the Indiana Asteroid Program at Goethe Link Observatory near Brooklyn, Indiana. It is named for astronomer Frank K. Edmondson of Indiana University, the program's founder and director....
is named for him.
Personal life
In 1934, Edmondson married Emma Margaret Russell (1914–1999), the youngest daughter of astronomer Henry Norris RussellHenry Norris Russell
Henry Norris Russell was an American astronomer who, along with Ejnar Hertzsprung, developed the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram . In 1923, working with Frederick Saunders, he developed Russell–Saunders coupling which is also known as LS coupling.-Biography:Russell was born in 1877 in Oyster Bay, New...
. Their children are Margaret Edmondson Olson, married to astronomer Edward Olson, and Frank Edmondson, Jr.
Book
- AURA and its US National Observatories, Cambridge University Press, 1997. ISBN 0-521-55345-8
External links
- International Catalog of Sources: Oral history interview with Frank K. Edmondson, 21 April 1977 and 2 February 1978 (description).
- Internet Archive: Frank K. Edmondson 90th Birthday Biography, Indiana University Department of Astronomy
- Internet Archive: Frank K. Edmondson Homepage, Indiana University Department of Astronomy
- AIP History Newsletter Volume XXXII, No. 2, Fall 2000
- Indiana University Astronomy Image Gallery: Frank K. Edmondson's Memorial Service, Jan. 24, 2009
- Oral History interview transcript with Frank Edmondson 21 April 1977 & 2 February 1978, American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library and Archives