- Harlan James Smith
Harlan James Smith (August 25, 1924–October 17, 1991) was an American
astronomer .He was born in
Wheeling, West Virginia , the son of Paul and Anna McGregor Smith. While attendingWheeling High School he was named first runner up in the "Westinghouse National Science Talent Search". From 1943 until the end ofWorld War II he served in theU.S. Army Air Corps , performing weather observation.Following the war he attended
Harvard University , earning aB.A. in 1949. In 1950 he married Joan Greene, and by 1951 had earned hisM.S. degree from Harvard. He began teaching at the astronomy department atYale University in 1953, but still completed hisPh.D. from Harvard by 1955.In 1963 he was named chair of the
University of Texas astronomy department where he also became the director of theMcDonald Observatory . At the observatory he oversaw the construction of the 2.7m telescope he had persuadedNASA to build in support of planetary missions. From 1966 until 1970 he was a member of the "Committee on the Large Space Telescope", an "ad hoc" group formed by the National Academy of Sciences, the work of which resulted in theHubble Space Telescope . He also was the chairperson of the NASA Space Science Board from 1977 until 1980, and there helped propose NASA'sGreat Observatories program . He retired in 1989.During his career he studiedvariable star s, the radio emission from planets, as well as photometry and astronomical instruments. WithDorrit Hoffleit , he was the first to observe the optical variability ofquasar s, and discovered a class ofvariable star s known asDelta Scuti variable s.He was an enthusiastic proponent of educating the public on astronomy, and developed the radio program "Star Date". He also developed "The Story of the Universe", a series of educational films. He was also a proponent of international cooperation, particularly with
China which he visited several times. He served as co-editor of the "Astronomical Journal " as well as acting secretary for theAmerican Astronomical Society .Smith died due to complications related to
cancer . He was survived by his wife and four children, along with their grandchildren.Awards and honors
* NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, 1991.
* A professorship in astronomy at the University of Texas is named after him.
*Asteroid 3842 Harlansmith is named after him.
* Harlan crater on theMoon is named after him.External links
* [http://quasar.as.utexas.edu/BillInfo/HJSmithObits.html Harlan James Smith, 1924-1991]
* [http://wheeling.weirton.lib.wv.us/people/hallfame/1998smit.htm Wheeling Hall of Fame]
* [http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1992BAAS...24.1332D Obituary: Harlan J. Smith, 1924-1991] , by James Nathaniel Douglas.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.