Albert George Wilson

Summary

Minor planets discovered: 5 [1]
1620 Geographos 14 September 1951 list[A]
1915 Quetzálcoatl 9 March 1953 list
1980 Tezcatlipoca 19 June 1950 list[B]
10000 Myriostos 30 September 1951 list
(118162) 1951 SX 29 September 1951 list
Co-discovery made with:
A R. Minkowski
B Å. A. E. Wallenquist

Albert George Wilson (July 28, 1918 – August 27, 2012) was an American astronomer and a discoverer of minor planets.[2][3]

He was born in Houston, Texas. He received his Ph.D. in mathematics from Caltech in 1947; his thesis title was Axially Symmetric Thermal Stresses in a Semi-Infinite Solid advised by Harry Bateman.

In 1949 he accepted a job at Palomar Observatory, and led the Palomar Sky Survey. In 1953 he became assistant director of Lowell Observatory, and served as director from 1954 to 1957. He later worked at Rand Corporation and other private sector positions. In 1962 he became founding editor of the astronomical magazine Icarus. In 1966, he accepted the position of associate director of McDonnell-Douglas Corporation Advanced Research Laboratories (DARL), which he held from 1966 until 1972. Wilson then became an adjunct professor at USC, teaching courses in philosophy and science until his retirement. After retiring Wilson was associated with the Institute on Man and Science and the Institute of the Future, lecturing and consulting for both groups.[2]

He discovered a number of asteroids, and also co-discovered the periodic comet 107P/Wilson–Harrington with Robert George Harrington. The object is also known as the minor planet 4015 Wilson–Harrington.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ "Minor Planet Discoverers (by number)". Minor Planet Center. 4 September 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2016.
  2. ^ a b Joseph S. Tenn – Sonoma State University. "Albert G. Wilson (1918 - 2012)". American Astronomical Society. Archived from the original on 2019-03-23. Retrieved 2012-10-09.
  3. ^ "Albert George Wilson". lowell. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2012-10-09.
  4. ^ Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(4015) Wilson-Harrington". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (4015) Wilson-Harrington. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 342. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_3999. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.

External links edit

  • The Lifework of Albert G. Wilson