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Lyman Spitzer

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American astronomer (1914-1997)

United StatesScientistsLived 1914 to 1997 · aged 82
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Languages25
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Lyman Spitzer Jr. was an American theoretical physicist, astronomer and mountaineer. As a scientist, he carried out research into star formation and plasma physics and in 1946 conceived the idea of telescopes operating in outer space.

Also inDeutsch

Photos 2

This image was made in July, 1967 on the Summit Ridge of Mt. Bertram Petrie in British Columbia, Canada by Charles Robert O'Dell during its first ascent.This image was made in July, 1967 on the Summit Ridge of Mt. Bertram Petrie in British Columbia, Canada by Charles Robert O'Dell during its first ascent.

Awards 15

1990Foreign Member of the Royal Society
1989James Madison Medal
1985Crafoord Prize in Astronomy
1980Prix Jules Janssen
1980Franklin Medal
1979National Medal of Science
1978Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society
1975Karl Schwarzschild Medal
1975James Clerk Maxwell Prize for Plasma Physics
1974Henry Draper Medal
1974Karl G. Jansky Lectureship
1973Bruce Medal
1953Henry Norris Russell Lectureship
1953Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Fellow of the American Physical Society

Connected to Lyman 6

Reinhard GenzelAlso won Crafoord Prize in AstronomyRobert VenturiAlso won James Madison MedalArne TiseliusAlso won Franklin MedalSamuel Pierpont LangleyAlso won Henry Draper MedalJan Hendrik OortAlso won Henry Norris Russell LectureshipIosif ShklovskyAlso won Bruce Medal

About this person

Lyman Spitzer Jr. was an American theoretical physicist, astronomer and mountaineer. As a scientist, he carried out research into star formation and plasma physics and in 1946 conceived the idea of telescopes operating in outer space. Spitzer invented the stellarator plasma device and is the namesake of NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. As a mountaineer, he made the first ascent of Mount Thor, with Donald C. Morton.

Country
United States
Category
Scientists
Type
Scientist
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1914 to 1997 · aged 82
Written about in
25 languages

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