Steven Soter
Encyclopedia
Dr. Steven Soter, PhD
, is an astrophysicist currently holding the positions of scientist-in-residence for New York University
's Environmental Studies Program and of Research Associate for the Department of Astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History
. He is a vocal proponent of the International Astronomical Union
's controversial 2006 definition of planet.
Soter received his Bachelors degree in astronomy and physics from UCLA in 1965 and his doctorate in astronomy from Cornell University
. One of his advisors was popular astronomer Carl Sagan
.
In 1974, Soter suggested that dust produced by meteoritic bombardment of Saturn's moon Phoebe
might orbit the planet until colliding with Saturn's moon Iapetus
and be responsible for the unique two-toned coloration of the latter. Saturn's "Phoebe ring", discovered in 2009, validated this prediction.
In 1977-1979, he co-wrote Carl Sagan's monumental 1980 astronomy documentary series Cosmos. Since then, he has also acted as advisor on a number of science documentaries, such as the IMAX films Blue Planet
and Cosmic Voyage
.
In 1997 he took a position at the American Museum of Natural History
's Hayden Planetarium
, and eventually progressed to the position of research associate.
In 2007, after the IAU announced its controversial decision on the definition of planet
, Soter published an article in Scientific American
in which he outlined a mathematical formulation, the "planetary discriminant", to describe how the IAU's requirement that a planet must have "cleared its neighborhood
" of other objects might be applied in practice. He had already written a more technical article on the same subject in 2006 before the new definition, but published after in The Astronomical Journal
Steven Soter: What is a Planet? Scientific American
What is a Planet? The Astronomical Journal
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
, is an astrophysicist currently holding the positions of scientist-in-residence for New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
's Environmental Studies Program and of Research Associate for the Department of Astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
. He is a vocal proponent of the International Astronomical Union
International Astronomical Union
The International Astronomical Union IAU is a collection of professional astronomers, at the Ph.D. level and beyond, active in professional research and education in astronomy...
's controversial 2006 definition of planet.
Soter received his Bachelors degree in astronomy and physics from UCLA in 1965 and his doctorate in astronomy from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
. One of his advisors was popular astronomer Carl Sagan
Carl Sagan
Carl Edward Sagan was an American astronomer, astrophysicist, cosmologist, author, science popularizer and science communicator in astronomy and natural sciences. He published more than 600 scientific papers and articles and was author, co-author or editor of more than 20 books...
.
In 1974, Soter suggested that dust produced by meteoritic bombardment of Saturn's moon Phoebe
Phoebe (moon)
Phoebe is an irregular satellite of Saturn. It was discovered by William Henry Pickering on 17 March 1899 from photographic plates that had been taken starting on 16 August 1898 at the Boyden Observatory near Arequipa, Peru, by DeLisle Stewart...
might orbit the planet until colliding with Saturn's moon Iapetus
Iapetus (moon)
Iapetus ), occasionally Japetus , is the third-largest moon of Saturn, and eleventh in the Solar System. It was discovered by Giovanni Domenico Cassini in 1671...
and be responsible for the unique two-toned coloration of the latter. Saturn's "Phoebe ring", discovered in 2009, validated this prediction.
In 1977-1979, he co-wrote Carl Sagan's monumental 1980 astronomy documentary series Cosmos. Since then, he has also acted as advisor on a number of science documentaries, such as the IMAX films Blue Planet
Blue Planet (film)
Blue Planet is an IMAX film directed by Ben Burtt, and produced by the IMAX Space Technology corporation for the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum, as well as Lockheed Corporation...
and Cosmic Voyage
Cosmic Voyage
Cosmic Voyage is a 1996 short documentary produced in the IMAX format, directed by Bayley Silleck, produced by Jeffrey Marvin, and narrated by Morgan Freeman. The film was presented by the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum,...
.
In 1997 he took a position at the American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
's Hayden Planetarium
Hayden Planetarium
The Hayden Planetarium is a public planetarium, part of the Rose Center for Earth and Space of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, currently directed by astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson....
, and eventually progressed to the position of research associate.
In 2007, after the IAU announced its controversial decision on the definition of planet
Definition of planet
The definition of planet, since the word was coined by the ancient Greeks, has included within its scope a wide range of celestial bodies. Greek astronomers employed the term asteres planetai , "wandering stars", for objects which apparently move over the sky...
, Soter published an article in Scientific American
Scientific American
Scientific American is a popular science magazine. It is notable for its long history of presenting science monthly to an educated but not necessarily scientific public, through its careful attention to the clarity of its text as well as the quality of its specially commissioned color graphics...
in which he outlined a mathematical formulation, the "planetary discriminant", to describe how the IAU's requirement that a planet must have "cleared its neighborhood
Clearing the neighbourhood
"Clearing the neighbourhood of its orbit" is a criterion for a celestial body to be considered a planet in the Solar System. This was one of the three criteria adopted by the International Astronomical Union in its 2006 definition of planet....
" of other objects might be applied in practice. He had already written a more technical article on the same subject in 2006 before the new definition, but published after in The Astronomical Journal
Sources
Steven SoterSteven Soter: What is a Planet? Scientific American
What is a Planet? The Astronomical Journal