Robert Wilson (astronomer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Wilson
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| Born | 16 April 1927 South Shields, County Durham, England
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| Died | 2 September 2002 Chelmsford, Essex, England
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| Nationality | British |
| Alma mater | Durham University |
| Known for | International Ultraviolet Explorer |
| Awards | FIP, FRS, FMSRS, CBE, Herschel Medal, US Presidential Award for Design Excellence, Kt Bach, Honorary Fellow of University College London, Massey Award, Honorary DSc of Queen's University Belfast |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astronomy and physics |
| Institutions | Edinburgh University, Harwell, Culham, University College London |
| Thesis | Spectral photometric investigations of early-type stars (1952) |
| Doctoral advisor | W. M. H. Greaves |
Sir Robert Wilson (born April 16, 1927, died September 2, 2002) was a British scientist. He was both an astronomer and a physicist. He studied physics at King's College, Durham and earned his PhD in Edinburgh. There, he worked at the Royal Observatory, studying the light from stars. His important work helped create big space telescopes, like the famous Hubble Space Telescope.
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Exploring Space with UV Light
In 1959, Robert Wilson joined a science team at Harwell Laboratory. He helped measure temperatures in an experiment called Zeta. This experiment was trying to create thermonuclear fusion, which is how the Sun makes energy. Wilson's work showed that the experiment was not hot enough for fusion to happen.
Rockets and Stars
Later, at Culham, he led a group studying ultraviolet light. This light is part of the light spectrum that we can't see. He used rockets to carry telescopes high above Earth. This was important because Earth's atmosphere blocks most ultraviolet light. By getting above the atmosphere, scientists could learn a lot about hot gases in the Sun and other stars. They especially studied the Sun's outer layers, like the corona.
European Space Missions
Wilson also helped with the first astronomy satellite from the European Space Research Organization. This mission was called TD-1A. He led a team from Britain that worked with Belgium. In 1972, their experiment, S2/68, created the first map of the entire sky using ultraviolet light.
The International Ultraviolet Explorer
Robert Wilson is best known as the "father" of the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) satellite. This idea started in 1964 as a plan for a very large space telescope. But it was too expensive, so the project was stopped in 1967.
A New Design
Wilson believed in the project. He convinced the UK to keep working on it. He helped create a completely new design for the telescope. This new design was simpler and cheaper, but it could do even more! This idea was called the Ultraviolet Astronomical Satellite (UVAS).
Global Collaboration
He presented this new design to ESRO again in 1968. Even though it was a good idea, it wasn't accepted. Wilson didn't give up. He offered his design work to NASA in the United States. This led to the IUE, a big international project. NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the UK all worked together on it.
Later Life and Awards
In 1972, Robert Wilson became a professor of Astronomy at University College London. He was honored with a special lecture by the Royal Astronomical Society in 1985. He was also made a knight in 1989. This means he was given the title "Sir."
He was involved in many important international science groups. He helped guide how astronomical observations were made from space.
