Sarah Lee Lippincott
Encyclopedia
Sarah Lee Lippincott also known as Sarah Lee Lippincott Zimmerman is an American astronomer. She is Professor Emerita of Astronomy
at Swarthmore College
and Director Emerita
of the college's Sproul Observatory
.
She is a pioneer in the use of astrometry
to determine the character of binary stars and search for extrasolar planets.
, University of Pennsylvania
, 1941
Master of Arts
, Swarthmore College
, 1942
College for Women in the 1940s where she played on the women's basketball team.
After graduation from the University of Pennsylvania Sarah Lippencott attended Swarthmore college where she worked closely with Peter van de Kamp
on many astrometry
projects between 1945 and his retirement in 1972. She wrote his obituary
when he died in 1995. She became observatory director after van de Kamp's successor, Wulff Heintz.
She was the third wife of the late Dave Garroway
, the founding host of NBC's
Today show. Garroway had an active interest in astronomy and they met on a tour of observatories in the Soviet Union
that she was hosting.
She conducted numerous astrometric studies of nearby stars with van de Kamp in the search for extrasolar planets. She reported the discovery of several objects of sub-stellar mass and proposed a 0.01 solar-mass planetary companion to the star Lalande 21185
in 1951. The same proposal of planetary objects was made for a number of other stars as well. Claims for the smaller planetary objects were never confirmed and gradually have become discredited. However, she was quite successful in using the same techniques for characterizing many binary star systems. Her 1951 calculations of the orbit of the difficult astronomical binary star system Ross 614
were used to successfully find and image the system's secondary star. These calculations were used by Walter Baade
to find and optically resolve this binary system for the first time using the then new 5 m (196.9 in) Hale Telescope
at the Palomar Observatory
in California
.
She is listed as Professor Emerita of Astronomy and Director Emerita of the Sproul Observatory in the 2010 Swarthmore college catalog. She last published astronomy research papers in 1983. In 2009 she attended the dedication ceremony for the new Peter van de Kamp
observatory at Swarthmore College.
Alumnae Achievement Award.
In 1973 she was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science
by Villanova University
.
In 1976 she was elected to the Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania (as Mrs. Christian Zimmerman).
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
at Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College is a private, independent, liberal arts college in the United States with an enrollment of about 1,500 students. The college is located in the borough of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia....
and Director Emerita
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
of the college's Sproul Observatory
Sproul Observatory
Sproul Observatory is an astronomical observatory owned and operated by Swarthmore College. It is located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, United States, and is named after William Cameron Sproul, the 27th Governor of Pennsylvania, who graduated from Swarthmore in 1891.-Tours:An open house is offered...
.
She is a pioneer in the use of 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...
to determine the character of binary stars and search for extrasolar planets.
Education
Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, 1941
Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
, Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore College is a private, independent, liberal arts college in the United States with an enrollment of about 1,500 students. The college is located in the borough of Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, 11 miles southwest of Philadelphia....
, 1942
Life
Sarah Lippencott was born in 1920 and attended college at the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
College for Women in the 1940s where she played on the women's basketball team.
After graduation from the University of Pennsylvania Sarah Lippencott attended Swarthmore college where she worked closely with Peter van de Kamp
Peter van de Kamp
Piet van de Kamp , known as Peter van de Kamp in the United States, was a Dutch astronomer who lived most of his life in the United States. He was professor of astronomy at Swarthmore College and director of the college's Sproul Observatory from 1937 until 1972...
on many 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...
projects between 1945 and his retirement in 1972. She wrote his obituary
Obituary
An obituary is a news article that reports the recent death of a person, typically along with an account of the person's life and information about the upcoming funeral. In large cities and larger newspapers, obituaries are written only for people considered significant...
when he died in 1995. She became observatory director after van de Kamp's successor, Wulff Heintz.
She was the third wife of the late Dave Garroway
Dave Garroway
David Cunningham "Dave" Garroway was the founding host of NBC's Today from 1952 to 1961. His easygoing, relaxed, and relaxing style belied a battle with depression that may have contributed to the end of his days as a leading television personality—and, eventually, his life...
, the founding host of NBC's
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
Today show. Garroway had an active interest in astronomy and they met on a tour of observatories in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
that she was hosting.
She conducted numerous astrometric studies of nearby stars with van de Kamp in the search for extrasolar planets. She reported the discovery of several objects of sub-stellar mass and proposed a 0.01 solar-mass planetary companion to the star Lalande 21185
Lalande 21185
Lalande 21185 is a red dwarf star in the constellation of Ursa Major. Although relatively close by, it is only magnitude 7 in visible light and thus is too dim to see with the unaided eye...
in 1951. The same proposal of planetary objects was made for a number of other stars as well. Claims for the smaller planetary objects were never confirmed and gradually have become discredited. However, she was quite successful in using the same techniques for characterizing many binary star systems. Her 1951 calculations of the orbit of the difficult astronomical binary star system Ross 614
Ross 614
Ross 614 or Gliese 234A is a red dwarf UV Cetiflare star and it is the primary member of a nearby binary star system in the constellation of Monoceros. This star has an magnitude of about 11, making it invisible to the unaided eye even though it is one of the stars nearest to the sun...
were used to successfully find and image the system's secondary star. These calculations were used by Walter Baade
Walter Baade
Wilhelm Heinrich Walter Baade was a German astronomer who worked in the USA from 1931 to 1959.-Biography:He took advantage of wartime blackout conditions during World War II, which reduced light pollution at Mount Wilson Observatory, to resolve stars in the center of the Andromeda galaxy for the...
to find and optically resolve this binary system for the first time using the then new 5 m (196.9 in) Hale Telescope
Hale telescope
The Hale Telescope is a , 3.3 reflecting telescope at the Palomar Observatory in California, named after astronomer George Ellery Hale. With funding from the Rockefeller Foundation, he orchestrated the planning, design, and construction of the observatory, but did not live to see its commissioning...
at the Palomar Observatory
Palomar Observatory
Palomar Observatory is a privately owned observatory located in San Diego County, California, southeast of Pasadena's Mount Wilson Observatory, in the Palomar Mountain Range. At approximately elevation, it is owned and operated by the California Institute of Technology...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
She is listed as Professor Emerita of Astronomy and Director Emerita of the Sproul Observatory in the 2010 Swarthmore college catalog. She last published astronomy research papers in 1983. In 2009 she attended the dedication ceremony for the new Peter van de Kamp
Peter van de Kamp
Piet van de Kamp , known as Peter van de Kamp in the United States, was a Dutch astronomer who lived most of his life in the United States. He was professor of astronomy at Swarthmore College and director of the college's Sproul Observatory from 1937 until 1972...
observatory at Swarthmore College.
Honors and awards
In 1966 she received the Kappa Kappa GammaKappa Kappa Gamma
Kappa Kappa Gamma is a collegiate women's fraternity, founded at Monmouth College, in Monmouth, Illinois, USA. Although the groundwork of the organization was developed as early as 1869, the 1876 Convention voted that October 13, 1870 should be recognized at the official Founders Day, because no...
Alumnae Achievement Award.
In 1973 she was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
by Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
.
In 1976 she was elected to the Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania (as Mrs. Christian Zimmerman).
Books
Lippincott authored two books, with coauthors:- Philadelphia: The Unexpected City; with Laurence LaforeLaurence LaforeLaurence David Lafore , an American historian.-Background:Lafore was born into a wealthy family off the Main Line of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
; Publisher: Doubleday & Co.; 1st edition (January 1, 1965); ASIN: B002LQQJR4 - Point to the Stars - Revised Edition; with Joseph Maron Joseph; Publisher: McGraw-Hill Book CompanyMcGraw-HillThe McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., is a publicly traded corporation headquartered in Rockefeller Center in New York City. Its primary areas of business are financial, education, publishing, broadcasting, and business services...
(1967); ASIN: B002BG231A
Papers
Lippincott published over one hundred papers in her career. These are two typical examples:- A determination of the parallax and mass-ratio of 6 Equulei by van de Kamp, PeterPeter van de KampPiet van de Kamp , known as Peter van de Kamp in the United States, was a Dutch astronomer who lived most of his life in the United States. He was professor of astronomy at Swarthmore College and director of the college's Sproul Observatory from 1937 until 1972...
and Lippincott, Sarah Lee, Astronomical JournalAstronomical JournalThe 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...
, Volume 51, Page 162 (1945) - An unseen companion to 36 Ursae Majoris A from analysis of plates taken with the Sproul 61-CM refractor by Lippincott, S. L. Astronomical Society of the PacificAstronomical Society of the PacificThe Astronomical Society of the Pacific is a scientific and educational organization, founded in San Francisco on February 7, 1889. Its name derives from its origins on the Pacific Coast, but today it has members all over the country and the world...
, Publications, Volume 95, Pages 775-777 (1983)
