Hamilton Jeffers
Encyclopedia
Hamilton Moore Jeffers was a noted astronomer
.
Jeffers was born in Sewickley, Pennsylvania
, to Presbyterian minister William Hamilton Jeffers, and Annie Robinson Tuttle (a woman 23 year younger than her husband). His elder brother Robinson Jeffers
would become a noted poet.
Hamilton Jeffers was graduated from the University of California, Berkeley
in 1917, and received a doctorate
in astronomy from the same institution in 1921. As a graduate student, he was particularly noted at the university's Lick Observatory
for the quality of his comet
ary observations.
In February, 1921, he made instructor of astronomy at the State University of Iowa, and remained so for slightly less than three years. In 1924, he became an Assistant Astronomer at the Lick Observatory, where he remained until his retirement in 1961, with the exception of the period of 1941 to 1945, during which he took leave to contribute to the war effort
. In 1933, he became an Associate Astronomer; and in 1938 he became a full Astronomer.
Jeffers was noted for the accuracy and precision of his work, which included extensive observations of double star
s.
During the war years, Jeffers served first at a radiation laboratory of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
, and then as an operations analyst in Alaska
and in India
.
Jeffers married his wife Bobbe in 1950.
Upon retirement, Jeffers was made Astronomer Emeritus at the Lick Observatory. He retired to Carmel Highlands
.
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
.
Jeffers was born in Sewickley, Pennsylvania
Sewickley, Pennsylvania
Sewickley is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, west northwest of Pittsburgh along the Ohio River. It is a residential suburb of Pittsburgh. The population was 3,827 at the 2010 census...
, to Presbyterian minister William Hamilton Jeffers, and Annie Robinson Tuttle (a woman 23 year younger than her husband). His elder brother Robinson Jeffers
Robinson Jeffers
John Robinson Jeffers was an American poet, known for his work about the central California coast. Most of Jeffers' poetry was written in classic narrative and epic form, but today he is also known for his short verse, and considered an icon of the environmental movement.-Life:Jeffers was born in...
would become a noted poet.
Hamilton Jeffers was graduated from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
in 1917, and received a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in astronomy from the same institution in 1921. As a graduate student, he was particularly noted at the university's Lick Observatory
Lick Observatory
The Lick Observatory is an astronomical observatory, owned and operated by the University of California. It is situated on the summit of Mount Hamilton, in the Diablo Range just east of San Jose, California, USA...
for the quality of his comet
Comet
A comet is an icy small Solar System body that, when close enough to the Sun, displays a visible coma and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena are both due to the effects of solar radiation and the solar wind upon the nucleus of the comet...
ary observations.
In February, 1921, he made instructor of astronomy at the State University of Iowa, and remained so for slightly less than three years. In 1924, he became an Assistant Astronomer at the Lick Observatory, where he remained until his retirement in 1961, with the exception of the period of 1941 to 1945, during which he took leave to contribute to the war effort
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...
. In 1933, he became an Associate Astronomer; and in 1938 he became a full Astronomer.
Jeffers was noted for the accuracy and precision of his work, which included extensive observations of double star
Double star
In observational astronomy, a double star is a pair of stars that appear close to each other in the sky as seen from Earth when viewed through an optical telescope. This can happen either because the pair forms a binary star, i.e...
s.
During the war years, Jeffers served first at a radiation laboratory of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, and then as an operations analyst in Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
and in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Jeffers married his wife Bobbe in 1950.
Upon retirement, Jeffers was made Astronomer Emeritus at the Lick Observatory. He retired to Carmel Highlands
Carmel Highlands, California
Carmel Highlands is an unincorporated community in Monterey County, California, United States. It is located south of Carmel-by-the-Sea , at an elevation of 318 feet . Carmel Highlands is located between Carmel to the north, and Big Sur to the south, and is close to Point Lobos State Reserve...
.