William Wilson Morgan
Encyclopedia
William Wilson Morgan was an American
astronomer
.
The principal theme in Morgan's work was the study of stellar and galaxy classification
. Along
with Philip Keenan
he developed the MK system for the classification of stars through their spectra. He
also developed several galaxy morphological classification systems, including the first systems to use
the physical properties of galaxies, as opposed to simple eye-ball estimates favoured by
Edwin Hubble
. He invented the now widely used classification cD for massive
galaxies in the centres of clusters.
He worked at Yerkes Observatory
. Along with Donald Osterbrock and Stewart Sharpless
, he used distance measurements of O and B type stars
to show the existence of spiral arms in the Milky Way
Galaxy.
Named after him
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...
.
The principal theme in Morgan's work was the study of stellar and galaxy classification
Categorization
Categorization is the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated and understood. Categorization implies that objects are grouped into categories, usually for some specific purpose. Ideally, a category illuminates a relationship between the subjects and objects of knowledge...
. Along
with Philip Keenan
Philip Childs Keenan
Philip Childs Keenan was an American astronomer.Keenan was an American spectroscopist who collaborated with William Wilson Morgan and Edith Kellman to develop the MKK stellar spectral classification system between 1939 and 1943...
he developed the MK system for the classification of stars through their spectra. He
also developed several galaxy morphological classification systems, including the first systems to use
the physical properties of galaxies, as opposed to simple eye-ball estimates favoured by
Edwin Hubble
Edwin Hubble
Edwin Powell Hubble was an American astronomer who profoundly changed the understanding of the universe by confirming the existence of galaxies other than the Milky Way - our own galaxy...
. He invented the now widely used classification cD for massive
galaxies in the centres of clusters.
He worked at Yerkes Observatory
Yerkes Observatory
Yerkes Observatory is an astronomical observatory operated by the University of Chicago in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. The observatory, which calls itself "the birthplace of modern astrophysics," was founded in 1897 by George Ellery Hale and financed by Charles T. Yerkes...
. Along with Donald Osterbrock and Stewart Sharpless
Stewart Sharpless
Stewart Sharpless is an American astronomer who carried out fundamental work on the structure of the Milky Way galaxy.As a graduate student at Yerkes Observatory he worked under William Morgan with fellow graduate student Don Osterbrock...
, he used distance measurements of O and B type stars
Stellar classification
In astronomy, stellar classification is a classification of stars based on their spectral characteristics. The spectral class of a star is a designated class of a star describing the ionization of its chromosphere, what atomic excitations are most prominent in the light, giving an objective measure...
to show the existence of spiral arms in the Milky Way
Milky Way
The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains the Solar System. This name derives from its appearance as a dim un-resolved "milky" glowing band arching across the night sky...
Galaxy.
Honors
Awards and honors- Bruce MedalBruce MedalThe Catherine Wolfe Bruce Gold Medal is awarded every year by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific for outstanding lifetime contributions to astronomy. It is named after Catherine Wolfe Bruce, an American patroness of astronomy, and was first awarded in 1898...
(1958) - Henry Norris Russell LectureshipHenry Norris Russell LectureshipThe Henry Norris Russell Lectureship is awarded each year by the American Astronomical Society in recognition of a lifetime of excellence in astronomical research.-Previous lecturers:This list of lecturers is from the American Astronomical Society's website....
(1961) - Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesAmerican Academy of Arts and SciencesThe American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
(1964) - Henry Draper MedalHenry Draper MedalThe Henry Draper Medal is awarded by the United States National Academy of Sciences "for investigations in astronomical physics". Named after Henry Draper, the medal is awarded with a gift of USD $15,000...
of the National Academy of SciencesUnited States National Academy of SciencesThe National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
(1980) - Herschel MedalHerschel MedalThe Herschel Medal is a medal of the Royal Astronomical Society, awarded for outstanding work in the area of observational astrophysics.-Herschel Medalists:*1974 John Paul Wild*1977 Arno Penzias and Robert Woodrow Wilson*1980 Gérard de Vaucouleurs...
(1983)
Named after him
- AsteroidAsteroidAsteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
3180 Morgan3180 Morgan3180 Morgan is a main-belt asteroid discovered on September 7, 1962 by Goethe Link Observatory at Brooklyn.- External links :*...
See also
- Edwin HubbleEdwin HubbleEdwin Powell Hubble was an American astronomer who profoundly changed the understanding of the universe by confirming the existence of galaxies other than the Milky Way - our own galaxy...
- Gérard de VaucouleursGérard de Vaucouleurs-External links:* * http://nedwww.ipac.caltech.edu/level5/normal_galaxies.html-Other resources:...
- Galaxy morphological classification