Gerry Neugebauer facts for kids
Gerhart "Gerry" Neugebauer (September 3, 1932 – September 26, 2014) was an American astronomer. He was famous for his important work in infrared astronomy. This is a special way of looking at the universe using infrared light, which we can't see with our eyes.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Gerry Neugebauer was born in Göttingen, Germany. When he was seven years old, his family moved to the United States. His father, Otto Neugebauer, was a well-known mathematician and science historian.
Gerry loved science and studied physics at Cornell University. He earned his first degree there in 1954. Later, he went on to get his Ph.D. (a higher degree) in physics from Caltech in 1960.
Career and Discoveries
After his studies, Gerry served in the U.S. Army at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. In 1962, he joined the faculty at Caltech as a professor. He became a full professor of physics in 1970. He also led the Division of Physics, Math, and Astronomy starting in 1988.
Gerry Neugebauer was a leader in infrared astronomy. He helped us learn a lot about planets, stars, and galaxies using infrared light. He was a key part of projects like the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS).
Exploring the Universe with Infrared
His observations at Mount Wilson and Palomar Observatory found thousands of new infrared sources in space. This gave us the first infrared view of the center of our own Milky Way galaxy.
With another scientist, Robert B. Leighton, he created the Two-Micron Sky Survey. This was the first infrared map of the sky. It listed over 5,000 infrared objects.
Gerry also worked with Eric Becklin to discover the Becklin–Neugebauer Object. This is a very bright source of infrared light in the Orion Nebula. It's one of the brightest objects in the sky when viewed with infrared telescopes.
He also helped design and build the W. M. Keck Observatory in Hawaii. This observatory has some of the world's largest telescopes.
Awards and Recognition
Gerry Neugebauer received many awards for his amazing work. These include:
- Two NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medals (in 1972 and 1984)
- The 1985 Space Science Award
- The 1986 Rumford Prize
- The 1996 Henry Norris Russell Lectureship
- The 1998 Herschel Medal
- The 2010 Bruce Medal
He was also named California Scientist of the Year in 1986. He was elected to important groups like the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Personal Life
Gerry Neugebauer was married to Marcia Neugebauer, who was also a famous scientist. She was a pioneer in studying the solar wind at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. They lived in Tucson, Arizona. Gerry Neugebauer passed away on September 26, 2014.
Prizes
- 1986 Rumford Prize
- 1996 Henry Norris Russell Lectureship
- 1998 Herschel Medal
- 2010 Bruce Medal
See also
In Spanish: Gerry Neugebauer para niños
