Carolyn S. Shoemaker: American astronomer, researcher and university teacher
Carolyn Jean Spellmann Shoemaker (June 24, 1929 – August 13, 2021) was an American astronomer.
She was a co-discoverer of Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9. She held the record for most comets discovered by a single person.
Carolyn S. Shoemaker | |
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| Born | Carolyn Jean Spellmann June 24, 1929 |
| Died | August 13, 2021 (aged 92) |
| Nationality | American |
| Citizenship | American |
| Alma mater | California State University, Chico |
| Known for | co-discoverer of Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9 |
| Spouse | Eugene Shoemaker 1951–1997 (his death) |
| Awards | James Craig Watson Medal (1998) National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal Rittenhouse Medal (1988) Scientist of the Year Award (1995) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astronomy |
| Institutions | California Institute of Technology Palomar Observatory, California |
Personal life
Shoemaker was born Carolyn Jean Spellmann in Gallup, New Mexico, United States. She was the widow of Eugene Shoemaker, a planetary scientist. They were married from 1951 until his death in 1997.
Shoemaker died on August 13, 2021 in Flagstaff, Arizona at the age of 92. The cause of death was health problems caused by a fall.
Career
Shoemaker started her astronomical career in 1980, searching for Earth-crossing asteroids and comets at the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, and the Palomar Observatory, San Diego, California.
As of 2002, Shoemaker had discovered 32 comets and over 300 asteroids (counting the as-yet unnumbered ones).
References
Other websites
- Biography for Carolyn S. Shoemaker on IMDb
- Universe Today page about Carolyn Shoemaker
- Biography of Carolyn Shoemaker at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center
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