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Lyman Spitzer

American astronomer (1914-1997) · United States · On the map · Scientists · Died at 82

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.

Lyman Spitzer is read about 55 times a day, in 34 languages.

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1997Died31 March 19971990Foreign Member of the Royal SocietyAward1989James Madison MedalAward1985Crafoord Prize in AstronomyAward1980Franklin MedalAwardPrix Jules JanssenAward1979National Medal of ScienceAward1978Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical SocietyAward1975James Clerk Maxwell Prize for Plasma PhysicsAwardKarl Schwarzschild MedalAward1974Henry Draper MedalAwardKarl G. Jansky LectureshipAward1973Bruce MedalAward1953Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesAwardHenry Norris Russell LectureshipAward1914Born26 June 1914

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Awards

Foreign Member of the Royal Society1990
James Madison Medal1989
Crafoord Prize in Astronomy1985
Prix Jules Janssen1980
Franklin Medal1980
National Medal of Science1979
Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society1978
Karl Schwarzschild Medal1975
James Clerk Maxwell Prize for Plasma Physics1975
Henry Draper Medal1974
Karl G. Jansky Lectureship1974
Bruce Medal1973
Henry Norris Russell Lectureship1953
Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences1953
Fellow of the American Physical Society

About this person

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

The same award as Lyman

Grote ReberBoth received Karl G. Jansky LectureshipReinhard GenzelBoth received Crafoord Prize in AstronomyWilliam HugginsBoth received Henry Draper MedalSandra FaberBoth received Bruce MedalIosif ShklovskyBoth received Karl G. Jansky LectureshipHarlow ShapleyBoth received Henry Norris Russell Lectureship