Andrew Yee[_1_]
January 13th 07, 11:46 PM
Public Information Office
University of California-Santa Cruz
Contact:
Tim Stephens, (831) 459-2495
January 12, 2007
Donald Osterbrock, eminent astronomer and former director of Lick
Observatory, dies at age 82
Donald Osterbrock, an eminent astronomer, a leading authority on the history
of astronomy, and former director of the University of California's Lick
Observatory, died suddenly on Thursday, January 11. He was 82.
Osterbrock, a professor emeritus of astronomy and astrophysics at the
University of California, Santa Cruz, was on campus at the time of his
death. He had continued to work at UC Santa Cruz and mentor students after
his official retirement in 1992.
"Don Osterbrock was one of the world's most important and influential
astronomers during the latter half of the 20th century," said George
Blumenthal, acting chancellor of UC Santa Cruz and one of Osterbrock's
colleagues in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics. "His
pathbreaking research covered an impressive range of subjects. He was also
an amazing teacher, and his former graduate students comprise a significant
part of the leadership of American astronomy today. I had enormous
admiration for him -- we will all miss his wisdom and humanity."
Born and raised in Cincinnati, Osterbrock earned a B.S. in physics and M.S.
and Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Chicago. After a posdoctoral
fellowship at Princeton University and faculty positions at the California
Institute of Technology and the University of Wisconsin, Madison, he came to
UC Santa Cruz in 1972 and served as director of UC's Lick Observatory from
1973 to 1981. Founded in 1888, Lick Observatory is situated on Mt. Hamilton
near San Jose, with headquarters on the UCSC campus.
"Don was a gifted leader of UC's Lick Observatory, leading during the
crucial period when the 10-meter Keck Telescopes had their beginning. Two
competing designs were proposed for these giant telescopes, and Don very
effectively and diplomatically guided the University through the difficult
choices that had to be made in order to get this project under way," said
Joseph Miller, a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UCSC who did his
graduate work under Osterbrock's supervision and served as director of UC
Observatories/Lick Observatory from 1991 to 2005.
As a researcher, Osterbrock made major contributions in several areas, from
understanding the nature of ionized gas around hot stars to discovering and
studying new types of active galactic nuclei, which are powered by black
holes in the centers of galaxies. He was a pioneer in the use of
spectroscopic methods for the study of gaseous nebulae in the cosmos.
Osterbrock's books on gaseous nebulae and active galaxies have been standard
references for astrophysicists for more than 30 years. He produced a
completely revised edition of Astrophysics of Gaseous Nebulae and Active
Galactic Nuclei in 2005.
Osterbrock also published numerous articles and books on the history of
astronomy, mostly after his retirement. His fifth book on the history of
American astronomy, Walter Baade: A Life in Astrophysics, was published in
2001.
Osterbrock received numerous awards and honors, including lifetime
achievement awards from the American Astronomical Society and the
Astronomical Society of the Pacific, two of astronomy's highest honors. In
1997, the Royal Astronomical Society awarded him its highest honor, the Gold
Medal, seldom given to an American. The American Astronomical Society and
the Antique Telescope Society both honored Osterbrock for his contributions
to the history of astronomy. An asteroid was named after him in 1996.
Osterbrock was a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American
Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society, and a
foreign associate of the Royal Astronomical Society. He served as president
of the American Astronomical Society and was a member or chair of various
advisory committees of the National Academy of Sciences, the National
Science Foundation, and other agencies and organizations. He was the author,
coauthor, or editor of 12 books and published more than 150 research papers.
He received honorary degrees from Ohio State University, University of
Chicago, University of Wisconsin, Ohio University, and University of
Cincinnati, as well as the University of Chicago's Alumni Medal and Alumni
Association Professional Achievement Award.
Osterbrock's survivors include his wife, Irene; three children, William
Osterbrock and Carol LePage, both of Santa Cruz, and Laura Osterbrock of
Seattle; and three grandchildren. Details regarding a memorial service are
not yet available.
University of California-Santa Cruz
Contact:
Tim Stephens, (831) 459-2495
January 12, 2007
Donald Osterbrock, eminent astronomer and former director of Lick
Observatory, dies at age 82
Donald Osterbrock, an eminent astronomer, a leading authority on the history
of astronomy, and former director of the University of California's Lick
Observatory, died suddenly on Thursday, January 11. He was 82.
Osterbrock, a professor emeritus of astronomy and astrophysics at the
University of California, Santa Cruz, was on campus at the time of his
death. He had continued to work at UC Santa Cruz and mentor students after
his official retirement in 1992.
"Don Osterbrock was one of the world's most important and influential
astronomers during the latter half of the 20th century," said George
Blumenthal, acting chancellor of UC Santa Cruz and one of Osterbrock's
colleagues in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics. "His
pathbreaking research covered an impressive range of subjects. He was also
an amazing teacher, and his former graduate students comprise a significant
part of the leadership of American astronomy today. I had enormous
admiration for him -- we will all miss his wisdom and humanity."
Born and raised in Cincinnati, Osterbrock earned a B.S. in physics and M.S.
and Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of Chicago. After a posdoctoral
fellowship at Princeton University and faculty positions at the California
Institute of Technology and the University of Wisconsin, Madison, he came to
UC Santa Cruz in 1972 and served as director of UC's Lick Observatory from
1973 to 1981. Founded in 1888, Lick Observatory is situated on Mt. Hamilton
near San Jose, with headquarters on the UCSC campus.
"Don was a gifted leader of UC's Lick Observatory, leading during the
crucial period when the 10-meter Keck Telescopes had their beginning. Two
competing designs were proposed for these giant telescopes, and Don very
effectively and diplomatically guided the University through the difficult
choices that had to be made in order to get this project under way," said
Joseph Miller, a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UCSC who did his
graduate work under Osterbrock's supervision and served as director of UC
Observatories/Lick Observatory from 1991 to 2005.
As a researcher, Osterbrock made major contributions in several areas, from
understanding the nature of ionized gas around hot stars to discovering and
studying new types of active galactic nuclei, which are powered by black
holes in the centers of galaxies. He was a pioneer in the use of
spectroscopic methods for the study of gaseous nebulae in the cosmos.
Osterbrock's books on gaseous nebulae and active galaxies have been standard
references for astrophysicists for more than 30 years. He produced a
completely revised edition of Astrophysics of Gaseous Nebulae and Active
Galactic Nuclei in 2005.
Osterbrock also published numerous articles and books on the history of
astronomy, mostly after his retirement. His fifth book on the history of
American astronomy, Walter Baade: A Life in Astrophysics, was published in
2001.
Osterbrock received numerous awards and honors, including lifetime
achievement awards from the American Astronomical Society and the
Astronomical Society of the Pacific, two of astronomy's highest honors. In
1997, the Royal Astronomical Society awarded him its highest honor, the Gold
Medal, seldom given to an American. The American Astronomical Society and
the Antique Telescope Society both honored Osterbrock for his contributions
to the history of astronomy. An asteroid was named after him in 1996.
Osterbrock was a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American
Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society, and a
foreign associate of the Royal Astronomical Society. He served as president
of the American Astronomical Society and was a member or chair of various
advisory committees of the National Academy of Sciences, the National
Science Foundation, and other agencies and organizations. He was the author,
coauthor, or editor of 12 books and published more than 150 research papers.
He received honorary degrees from Ohio State University, University of
Chicago, University of Wisconsin, Ohio University, and University of
Cincinnati, as well as the University of Chicago's Alumni Medal and Alumni
Association Professional Achievement Award.
Osterbrock's survivors include his wife, Irene; three children, William
Osterbrock and Carol LePage, both of Santa Cruz, and Laura Osterbrock of
Seattle; and three grandchildren. Details regarding a memorial service are
not yet available.