Carolyn S. Shoemaker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carolyn S. Shoemaker
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| Born |
Carolyn Jean Spellmann
June 24, 1929 Gallup, New Mexico, United States
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| Died | August 13, 2021 (aged 92) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Chico State |
| Known for | Co-discovery of Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9 |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astronomy |
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Carolyn Jean Spellmann Shoemaker (June 24, 1929 – August 13, 2021) was an American astronomer. She helped discover Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9. This comet famously crashed into Jupiter in 1994. Carolyn Shoemaker found 32 comets and over 500 asteroids. This was a record for one person at the time.
She studied history, political science, and English literature in college. She was not very interested in science at first. But then she met and married geologist Eugene Merle Shoemaker. Her career in astronomy began because she had excellent stereoscopic vision. This skill helped her find objects in space. Even without a science degree, her visual ability led the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) to hire her. She became a research assistant on a team led by her husband. She went on to make many important discoveries in astronomy. She also received many awards.
Carolyn Shoemaker's Life
Carolyn Shoemaker was born on June 24, 1929. Her birthplace was Gallup, New Mexico. Her parents were Hazel and Leonard Spellmann. Her family later moved to Chico, California. She grew up there with her brother, Richard. She earned two degrees from Chico State. These degrees were in history, political science, and English literature.
She met her future husband, Eugene "Gene" Shoemaker, through her brother. Gene was Richard's roommate at Caltech. Carolyn first met Gene in the summer of 1950 at her brother's wedding. After graduating, Gene moved to New Jersey for his studies at Princeton University. Carolyn and Gene kept in touch by writing letters. They later went on a camping trip together. They got married on August 18, 1951. They had three children: Christy, Linda, and Patrick.
The Shoemaker family lived in several places. These included Grand Junction, Colorado, Menlo Park, California, and Pasadena, California. They finally settled in Flagstaff, Arizona. There, Carolyn and Gene worked together at the Lowell Observatory. In 1997, they were in a car crash in Australia. Gene died instantly. Carolyn was badly hurt but recovered.
Carolyn Shoemaker passed away on August 13, 2021. She was 92 years old.
Her Work in Astronomy
Carolyn Shoemaker's first job was teaching seventh grade. She did not enjoy teaching. She quit to raise her family. Mary Chapman, who wrote about Shoemaker, said Carolyn was "warm, caring, and extremely patient." But her skills were better suited for other work. After her children grew up, Shoemaker looked for a job. When she was young, she was not interested in science. She found geology boring. However, she later said that listening to Gene explain geology made it exciting.
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Her husband suggested she study astronomy. She started learning from a student at Lowell Observatory. Then she became a field assistant for Gene. She helped him search for and map impact craters.
Carolyn Shoemaker began her astronomy career in 1980. She was 51 years old. She searched for Earth-crossing asteroids and comets. She worked at the California Institute of Technology and the Palomar Observatory. In 1980, she was hired by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). In 1989, she became an astronomy research professor at Northern Arizona University. She focused on finding comets and asteroids that cross planets' paths.
She worked with astronomer David H. Levy. Together, they found Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9 on March 24, 1993. This comet was broken into pieces. Its path crossed with Jupiter's orbit.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Shoemaker used special film from the Palomar Observatory. She used a stereoscope to view the film. This tool helped her see objects that moved against the background of fixed stars.
After recovering from her injuries in the 1997 car crash, she continued her work. She worked at the Lowell Observatory with David Levy. She was active in astronomy until at least 2002. By 2002, Shoemaker had discovered or co-discovered 32 comets and over 500 asteroids.
Awards and Special Recognition
An asteroid was named in her honor. It is called 4446 Carolyn. Her colleague Edward Bowell discovered it in 1985. In 1988, Shoemaker received the Rittenhouse Medal.
She also received the Scientist of the Year Award in 1995. In 1996, she earned an honorary doctorate degree from Northern Arizona University. She also received the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal. In 1998, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences gave both Shoemakers the James Craig Watson Medal.
See also
In Spanish: Carolyn Shoemaker para niños
