John Gallagher III
Encyclopedia
John S. Gallagher III is an American
astronomer
.
He was raised near New York city
and received his undergraduate education at Princeton University
. He performed his graduate work at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
, and was awarded a Ph.D in 1972. After graduating he held positions at the National Optical Astronomy Observatory
and
at the University of Illinois
, and was the director of the Lowell Observatory
. He is currently a Professor of Astronomy at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
and the Editor of the Astronomical Journal
.
Gallagher's major scientific contributions include a review article he wrote along with Sandra Faber in 1976 that convinced most astronomers that dark matter was real. In the 1980s, with Deidre Hunter, he made the first substantial studies of dwarf irregular galaxies. Gallagher has made major contributions towards our understanding of star formation in galaxies, the formation and evolution of low mass galaxies and stellar nova
.
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...
.
He was raised near New York city
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and received his undergraduate education at Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
. He performed his graduate work at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
, and was awarded a Ph.D in 1972. After graduating he held positions at the National Optical Astronomy Observatory
National Optical Astronomy Observatory
The National Optical Astronomy Observatory is the United States national observatory for ground based nighttime ultraviolet-optical-infrared astronomy. The National Science Foundation funds NOAO to provide forefront astronomical research facilities for US astronomers...
and
at the University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
, and was the director of the 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....
. He is currently a Professor of Astronomy at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
and the Editor of the Astronomical Journal
Astronomical Journal
The Astronomical Journal is a peer-reviewed monthly scientific journal owned by the American Astronomical Society and currently published by Institute of Physics Publishing. It is one of the premier journals for astronomy in the world...
.
Gallagher's major scientific contributions include a review article he wrote along with Sandra Faber in 1976 that convinced most astronomers that dark matter was real. In the 1980s, with Deidre Hunter, he made the first substantial studies of dwarf irregular galaxies. Gallagher has made major contributions towards our understanding of star formation in galaxies, the formation and evolution of low mass galaxies and stellar nova
Nova
A nova is a cataclysmic nuclear explosion in a star caused by the accretion of hydrogen on to the surface of a white dwarf star, which ignites and starts nuclear fusion in a runaway manner...
.