Marc Aaronson
Encyclopedia
Marc Aaronson was an American
astronomer
.
, where he received a BSc
in 1972. He completed his Ph.D.
in 1977 at Harvard University with a dissertation on the near-infrared aperture photometry of galaxies. He joined Steward Observatory at the University of Arizona
as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in 1977 and became an Associate Professor of Astronomy in 1983. Aaronson and Jeremy Mould
won the George Van Biesbroeck Prize
in 1981 and the Newton Lacy Pierce Prize in Astronomy
in 1984 from the American Astronomical Society
. He was also awarded the Bart J. Bok Prize in 1983 from Harvard University
.
His work concentrated on three fields: the determination of the Hubble constant (H0) using the Tully-Fisher relation
, the study of carbon rich star
s, and the velocity distribution of those stars in dwarf spheroidal galaxies
.
Aaronson was one of the first astronomers to attempt to image dark matter
using infrared imaging. He imaged infrared halos of unknown matter around galaxies that could be dark matter.
. Aaronson was killed when he was crushed by the hatch leading out to the catwalk when the hatch was slammed shut on him by a ladder which extended down from the turning telescope dome. A switch on the hatch automatically shut down the dome rotation motor; however, the momentum of the dome kept it moving for a few moments, allowing it to hit the outward opening hatch. Observers were not supposed to open the hatch while the dome was rotating because of that possibility, a design flaw that was corrected after the accident by trimming the ladder and redesigning the hatch to slide sideways, parallel to the dome wall.
Asteroid
3277 Aaronson
is named in his honor.
, promoting and recognizing excellence in astronomical research, is held every 18 months by the University of Arizona and Steward Observatory as a tribute to his memory.
Lecturers
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...
.
Education
Aaronson was educated at the California Institute of TechnologyCalifornia Institute of Technology
The California Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Pasadena, California, United States. Caltech has six academic divisions with strong emphases on science and engineering...
, where he received a BSc
BSC
BSC is a three-letter abbreviation that may refer to:Science and technology* Bachelor of Science , an undergraduate degree* Base Station Controller, part of a mobile phone network; see: Base Station subsystem...
in 1972. He completed his Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in 1977 at Harvard University with a dissertation on the near-infrared aperture photometry of galaxies. He joined Steward Observatory at the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in 1977 and became an Associate Professor of Astronomy in 1983. Aaronson and Jeremy Mould
Jeremy Mould
Jeremy R. Mould is an Australian astronomer currently at the Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing at Swinburne University of Technology ....
won the George Van Biesbroeck Prize
George Van Biesbroeck Prize
The George Van Biesbroeck Prize is an award for long-term achievements in the field of astronomy. According to the American Astronomical Society awards website; "The Van Biesbroeck prize is normally awarded every two years and honors a living individual for long-term extraordinary or unselfish...
in 1981 and the Newton Lacy Pierce Prize in Astronomy
Newton Lacy Pierce Prize in Astronomy
The Newton Lacy Pierce Prize in Astronomy is awarded annually by the American Astronomical Society to a young astronomer for outstanding achievement in observational astronomical research.Pierce Prize winners:* 1974 Edwin M. Kellogg...
in 1984 from 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...
. He was also awarded the Bart J. Bok Prize in 1983 from 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...
.
His work concentrated on three fields: the determination of the Hubble constant (H0) using the Tully-Fisher relation
Tully-Fisher relation
In astronomy, the Tully–Fisher relation, published by astronomers R. Brent Tully and J. Richard Fisher in 1977, is an empirical relationship between the intrinsic luminosity of a spiral galaxy and its velocity width...
, the study of carbon rich star
Carbon star
A carbon star is a late-type star similar to a red giant whose atmosphere contains more carbon than oxygen; the two elements combine in the upper layers of the star, forming carbon monoxide, which consumes all the oxygen in the atmosphere, leaving carbon atoms free to form other carbon compounds,...
s, and the velocity distribution of those stars in dwarf spheroidal galaxies
Dwarf spheroidal galaxy
Dwarf spheroidal galaxy is a term in astronomy applied to low luminosity galaxies that are companions to the Milky Way and to the similar systems that are companions to the Andromeda Galaxy M31...
.
Aaronson was one of the first astronomers to attempt to image dark matter
Dark matter
In astronomy and cosmology, dark matter is matter that neither emits nor scatters light or other electromagnetic radiation, and so cannot be directly detected via optical or radio astronomy...
using infrared imaging. He imaged infrared halos of unknown matter around galaxies that could be dark matter.
Death
Aaronson was killed during an accident in the evening hours of 30 April 1987, in the dome of the 4-m Mayall Telescope of the Kitt Peak National ObservatoryKitt 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...
. Aaronson was killed when he was crushed by the hatch leading out to the catwalk when the hatch was slammed shut on him by a ladder which extended down from the turning telescope dome. A switch on the hatch automatically shut down the dome rotation motor; however, the momentum of the dome kept it moving for a few moments, allowing it to hit the outward opening hatch. Observers were not supposed to open the hatch while the dome was rotating because of that possibility, a design flaw that was corrected after the accident by trimming the ladder and redesigning the hatch to slide sideways, parallel to the dome wall.
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...
3277 Aaronson
3277 Aaronson
3277 Aaronson is a main belt asteroid discovered on January 8, 1984 by Bowell, E. at Lowell Observatory....
is named in his honor.
The Marc Aaronson Memorial Lectureship
The Marc Aaronson Memorial LectureshipMarc Aaronson Memorial Lectureship
In order to create a fitting tribute to the memory of Marc Aaronson, his family, friends, and colleagues have established and privately endowed the Marc Aaronson Memorial Lectureship to promote and recognize excellence in astronomical research...
, promoting and recognizing excellence in astronomical research, is held every 18 months by the University of Arizona and Steward Observatory as a tribute to his memory.
Lecturers
- 1989 Dr. Robert Kirshner, Harvard University
- 1990 Dr. Kenneth C. Freeman, Mt. Stromlo/Siding Spring Observatories, Australia
- 1992 Dr. John P. Huchra, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
- 1993 Dr. Nicolas Z. Scoville, California Institute of Technology
- 1994 Dr. Wendy L. Freedman, The Observatories of the Carnegie Institution of Washington
- 1996 Dr. J. Anthony Tyson, Bell Laboratories/Lucent Technologies
- 1998 Dr. John C. Mather, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
- 1999 Dr. Bohdan Paczynski, Princeton University
- 2001 Dr. Ewine van Dishoeck, University of Zeiden, The Netherlands
- 2002 Dr. Geoffrey W. Marcy, University of California, Berkeley
- 2004 Dr. Lyman Page, Jr., Princeton University
- 2005 Dr. Brian Schmidt, Mt. Stromlo/Siding Spring Observatories, Australia
- 2007 Dr. Andrea M. Ghez, University of California, Los Angeles
- 2008 Dr. Michael E. Brown, California Institute of Technology