Robert Sutton Harrington
Encyclopedia
Robert Sutton Harrington (October 21, 1942 – January 23, 1993) was an American astronomer
who worked at the United States Naval Observatory
(USNO). Harrington was born near Newport News
, Virginia
. His father was an archaeologist. He was married to Betty-Jean Maycock
in 1976, with two daughters, Amy and Ann.
Harrington worked at the USNO. Another astronomer there, James W. Christy
, consulted with him after discovering bulges in the images of Pluto
, which turned out to be Pluto's satellite
Charon
. For this reason, some consider Harrington to be a co-discoverer of Charon, although Christy usually gets sole credit. By the laws of physics
, it is easy to determine the mass
of a binary system based on its orbital period, so Harrington was the first to calculate the mass of the Pluto-Charon system, which was lower than even the lowest previous estimates of Pluto's mass.
Harrington became a believer in the existence of a Planet X
beyond Pluto and undertook searches for it, unsuccessfully. In this he collaborated initially with T. C. (Tom) Van Flandern
. They were both "courted" by Zecharia Sitchin
and his followers who believe in a planet Nibiru or Marduk, who cite the research of Harrington and van Flandern (but the Sitchin theories are considered pseudoscience
by most scientists).
Harrington died of esophageal cancer
in 1993. The asteroid
3216 Harrington
was named in his honour.
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...
who worked at the United States Naval Observatory
United States Naval Observatory
The United States Naval Observatory is one of the oldest scientific agencies in the United States, with a primary mission to produce Positioning, Navigation, and Timing for the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Department of Defense...
(USNO). Harrington was born near Newport News
Newport News, Virginia
Newport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. His father was an archaeologist. He was married to Betty-Jean Maycock
Betty-Jean Maycock
Betty Jean Maycock Harrington, is a former Olympic gymnast from Cleveland, Ohio, United States. Harrington was a member of the 1960 U.S. Women's Gymnastics Team that competed in the Summer Olympics in Rome, Italy. Prior to the Olympics, she was part of the first collegiate women's gymnastics team...
in 1976, with two daughters, Amy and Ann.
Harrington worked at the USNO. Another astronomer there, James W. Christy
James W. Christy
James Walter Christy is an American astronomer.On June 22, 1978 while working at the United States Naval Observatory, he discovered that Pluto had a moon, which he named Charon shortly afterwards...
, consulted with him after discovering bulges in the images of 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...
, which turned out to be Pluto's satellite
Natural satellite
A natural satellite or moon is a celestial body that orbits a planet or smaller body, which is called its primary. The two terms are used synonymously for non-artificial satellites of planets, of dwarf planets, and of minor planets....
Charon
Charon (moon)
Charon is the largest satellite of the dwarf planet Pluto. It was discovered in 1978 at the United States Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station. Following the 2005 discovery of two other natural satellites of Pluto , Charon may also be referred to as Pluto I...
. For this reason, some consider Harrington to be a co-discoverer of Charon, although Christy usually gets sole credit. By the laws of physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
, it is easy to determine the mass
Mass
Mass can be defined as a quantitive measure of the resistance an object has to change in its velocity.In physics, mass commonly refers to any of the following three properties of matter, which have been shown experimentally to be equivalent:...
of a binary system based on its orbital period, so Harrington was the first to calculate the mass of the Pluto-Charon system, which was lower than even the lowest previous estimates of Pluto's mass.
Harrington became a believer in the existence of a Planet X
Planet X
Following the discovery of the planet Neptune in 1846, there was considerable speculation that another planet might exist beyond its orbit. The search began in the mid-19th century but culminated at the start of the 20th with Percival Lowell's quest for Planet X...
beyond Pluto and undertook searches for it, unsuccessfully. In this he collaborated initially with T. C. (Tom) Van Flandern
Tom Van Flandern
Thomas C Van Flandern was an American astronomer and author specializing in celestial mechanics. Van Flandern had a career as a professional scientist, but was noted as an outspoken proponent of non-mainstream views related to astronomy, physics, and extra-terrestrial life. He also published the...
. They were both "courted" by Zecharia Sitchin
Zecharia Sitchin
Zecharia Sitchin was an Azerbaijani-born American author of books promoting an explanation for human origins involving ancient astronauts. Sitchin attributes the creation of the ancient Sumerian culture to the Anunnaki, which he states was a race of extra-terrestrials from a planet beyond Neptune...
and his followers who believe in a planet Nibiru or Marduk, who cite the research of Harrington and van Flandern (but the Sitchin theories are considered pseudoscience
Pseudoscience
Pseudoscience is a claim, belief, or practice which is presented as scientific, but which does not adhere to a valid scientific method, lacks supporting evidence or plausibility, cannot be reliably tested, or otherwise lacks scientific status...
by most scientists).
Harrington died of esophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer is malignancy of the esophagus. There are various subtypes, primarily squamous cell cancer and adenocarcinoma . Squamous cell cancer arises from the cells that line the upper part of the esophagus...
in 1993. The 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...
3216 Harrington
3216 Harrington
3216 Harrington is a main-belt asteroid discovered on September 4, 1980 by Bowell, E. at Flagstaff .- External links :*...
was named in his honour.