Stewart Sharpless
Encyclopedia
Stewart Sharpless is an American astronomer
who carried out fundamental work on the structure of the Milky Way galaxy
.
As a graduate student at Yerkes Observatory
he worked under William Morgan
with fellow graduate student Don Osterbrock
. In 1952, they published their observations that demonstrated the spiral structure of the Milky Way by estimating the distances to H II region
s and young hot stars. For a while Sharpless was at Mount Wilson Observatory
where he worked on galaxy photography with Walter Baade
and Edwin Hubble
.
In 1953 Sharpless joined the staff of the United States Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station
. Here he surveyed and cataloged H II region
s of the Milky Way Galaxy using the images from the Palomar Sky Survey. From this work Sharpless published his catalog of H II regions in two editions, the first in 1953 with 142 nebula. The second and final edition was published in 1959 with 313 nebulae (see Sharpless catalog
).
Stewart Sharpless is currently a retired Professor Emeritus in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Rochester
.
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
who carried out fundamental work on the structure of the Milky Way galaxy
Milky Way
The Milky Way is the galaxy that contains the Solar System. This name derives from its appearance as a dim un-resolved "milky" glowing band arching across the night sky...
.
As a graduate student at Yerkes Observatory
Yerkes Observatory
Yerkes Observatory is an astronomical observatory operated by the University of Chicago in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. The observatory, which calls itself "the birthplace of modern astrophysics," was founded in 1897 by George Ellery Hale and financed by Charles T. Yerkes...
he worked under William Morgan
William Wilson Morgan
William Wilson Morgan was an American astronomer.The principal theme in Morgan's work was the study of stellar and galaxy classification. Along...
with fellow graduate student Don Osterbrock
Donald Edward Osterbrock
Donald Edward Osterbrock was an American astronomer, best known for his work on star formation and on the history of astronomy.- Biography :Osterbrock was born in Cincinnati. His father was an electrical engineer...
. In 1952, they published their observations that demonstrated the spiral structure of the Milky Way by estimating the distances to H II region
H II region
An H II region is a large, low-density cloud of partially ionized gas in which star formation has recently taken place. The short-lived, blue stars forged in these regions emit copious amounts of ultraviolet light, ionizing the surrounding gas...
s and young hot stars. For a while Sharpless was at Mount Wilson Observatory
Mount Wilson Observatory
The Mount Wilson Observatory is an astronomical observatory in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The MWO is located on Mount Wilson, a 5,715 foot peak in the San Gabriel Mountains near Pasadena, northeast of Los Angeles...
where he worked on galaxy photography with Walter Baade
Walter Baade
Wilhelm Heinrich Walter Baade was a German astronomer who worked in the USA from 1931 to 1959.-Biography:He took advantage of wartime blackout conditions during World War II, which reduced light pollution at Mount Wilson Observatory, to resolve stars in the center of the Andromeda galaxy for the...
and Edwin Hubble
Edwin Hubble
Edwin Powell Hubble was an American astronomer who profoundly changed the understanding of the universe by confirming the existence of galaxies other than the Milky Way - our own galaxy...
.
In 1953 Sharpless joined the staff of the United States Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station
United States Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station
The United States Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station , is a scientific astronomical observatory operated as a Navy Echelon V command and the national dark-sky observing Facility/observatory subordinate to the United States Naval Observatory . USNO and NOFS are commands within the CNMOC claimancy,...
. Here he surveyed and cataloged H II region
H II region
An H II region is a large, low-density cloud of partially ionized gas in which star formation has recently taken place. The short-lived, blue stars forged in these regions emit copious amounts of ultraviolet light, ionizing the surrounding gas...
s of the Milky Way Galaxy using the images from the Palomar Sky Survey. From this work Sharpless published his catalog of H II regions in two editions, the first in 1953 with 142 nebula. The second and final edition was published in 1959 with 313 nebulae (see Sharpless catalog
Sharpless catalog
The Sharpless catalog is a list of 312 HII regions , intended to be comprehensive north of declination -27°. The first edition was publishing 1953 with 142 objects and second and final version was published by US astronomer Stewart Sharpless in 1959 with 312 objects.In 1953 Stewart Sharpless joined...
).
Stewart Sharpless is currently a retired Professor Emeritus in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
.