| 1 | Name: | Dr. Gerry Neugebauer | |
| Institution: | California Institute of Technology | ||
| Year Elected: | 1986 | ||
| Class: | 1. Mathematical and Physical Sciences | ||
| Subdivision: | 101. Astronomy | ||
| Residency: | Resident | ||
| Living? : | Deceased | ||
| Birth Date: | 1932 | ||
| Death Date: | September 26, 2014 | ||
At the time of his death September 26. 2014, at the age of 82, Gerry Neugebauer was the Robert A. Millikan Professor of Physics Emeritus at the California Institute of Technology, where for many years he also directed the Palomar Observatory. Dr. Neugebauer received his Ph.D. from CalTech in 1960, began his professorial career there in 1962 and also served as chairman of the division of physics, mathematics and astronomy from 1988-93. His major contributions in the field include an infrared survey of three-fourths of the sky at two microns. His observations led to the realization of its complex structure, with a point source superimposed on a large, diffuse central source. In addition he made careful observations of numerous objects such as the Orion nebula, Seyfert galaxies, quasars, OH sources, and other cool objects whose enormous infrared intensities dominate their total flux and are of significance in elucidating their physical natures. The complex energy distributions in these objects have shown that an enormous excess of low-temperature radiation presumably arising from dust is a common property of the formation of stars, the opaque molecular clouds surrounding dying giant stars, and the explosion of galactic nuclei. Dr. Neugebauer opened up infrared areas in astronomy with satellites and regularly followed his space experiments with ground-based investigations. Winner of the Rumford Prize (1986) and a two-time recipient of the NASA Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal (1972, 1984), Dr. Neugebauer had been elected to the membership of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. He was elected a member of the American Philosophical Society in 1986. | |||