- William Wilson Morgan
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William Wilson Morgan Born January 3, 1906 Died June 21, 1994 (aged 88)Nationality American Fields astronomer Institutions Yerkes Observatory Notable awards Bruce Medal (1958)
Henry Draper Medal (1980)William Wilson Morgan (January 3, 1906 – June 21, 1994) was an American astronomer.
The principal theme in Morgan's work was the study of stellar and galaxy classification. Along with Philip Keenan he developed the MK system for the classification of stars through their spectra. He also developed several galaxy morphological classification systems, including the first systems to use the physical properties of galaxies, as opposed to simple eye-ball estimates favoured by Edwin Hubble. He invented the now widely used classification cD for massive galaxies in the centres of clusters.
He worked at Yerkes Observatory. Along with Donald Osterbrock and Stewart Sharpless, he used distance measurements of O and B type stars to show the existence of spiral arms in the Milky Way Galaxy.
Contents
Honors
Awards and honors
- Bruce Medal (1958)[1]
- Henry Norris Russell Lectureship (1961)[2]
- Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1964)[3]
- Henry Draper Medal of the National Academy of Sciences (1980)[4]
- Herschel Medal (1983)
Named after him
References
- ^ "Past Winners of the Catherine Wolfe Bruce Gold Medal". Astronomical Society of the Pacific. http://astrosociety.org/membership/awards/pastbruce.html. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
- ^ "Grants, Prizes and Awards". American Astronomical Society. http://aas.org/grants/awards.php#russell. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
- ^ "Book of Members, 1780-2010: Chapter M". American Academy of Arts and Sciences. http://www.amacad.org/publications/BookofMembers/ChapterM.pdf. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
- ^ "Henry Draper Medal". National Academy of Sciences. http://www.nasonline.org/site/PageServer?pagename=AWARDS_draper. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
See also
External links
Categories:- 1906 births
- 1994 deaths
- American astronomers
- Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- National Academy of Sciences laureates
- American astronomer stubs
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