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Helmut Abt
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<h2 id="life-and-career">Life and career</h2> <p>Helmut Arthur Abt was born in Helmstedt, Germany on 26 May 1925.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> His family emigrated to the United States when he was two.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> He received his B.S. in <a href="/facts/Mathematics/pxTouaz4">Mathematics</a> from <a href="/facts/Northwestern_University/4dunJHBf">Northwestern University</a> in 1946, M.S. in <a href="/facts/Physics/a7aH2y08">Physics</a> from Northwestern University in 1948,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> and became the first person to be awarded a Ph.D. in astrophysics at <a href="/facts/California_Institute_of_Technology/3FPcp7BL">California Institute of Technology</a> in 1952 for his thesis work on <a href="/facts/W_Virginis/mRCpXDIa">W Virginis</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> </p><p>He then spent a year at <a href="/facts/Lick_Observatory/GjdK0880">Lick Observatory</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> From 1953 to 1959 he was assistant professor at <a href="/facts/Yerkes_Observatory/kEpCtkwL">Yerkes Observatory</a>, part of the <a href="/facts/University_of_Chicago/z6zRMUmV">University of Chicago</a>, then joined the staff of the Kitt Peak National Observatory as an astronomer, where he remained until 2000.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a> From 1966 to 1968, he was President of the <a href="/facts/Astronomical_Society_of_the_Pacific/1hWIYXTL">Astronomical Society of the Pacific</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a> During 1971–1999 he was managing editor of the <i><a href="/facts/Astrophysical_Journal/jSYn0eez">Astrophysical Journal</a></i>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a> </p><p>His areas of research included <a href="/facts/Stellar_rotation/N0VzIXLC">stellar rotation</a>; <a href="/facts/Binary_star/TYlDe1bD">binary stars</a>, including <a href="/facts/Spectroscopic_binaries/TYlDe1bD">spectroscopic binaries</a>; <a href="/facts/Stellar_classification/dYrIuK9H">stellar classification</a>; and <a href="/facts/Bibliometrics/PaWjjRuW">bibliometrics</a> of <a href="/facts/Astronomy/0ArJVM1p">astronomy</a> publications.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a> </p><p>Abt died on 22 November 2024, at the age of 99.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="awards-and-honors">Awards and honors</h2> <p>Abt was awarded the <a href="/facts/George_Van_Biesbroeck_Prize/4Ab3340b">George Van Biesbroeck Prize</a> in 1997.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21"><sup>21</sup></a> The <a href="/facts/Main-belt/YHAq2Eh3">main-belt</a> asteroid <a href="/facts/9423_Abt/ngdIxXdL">9423 Abt</a>, discovered by <a href="/facts/Spacewatch/97cMRR0S">Spacewatch</a> at <a href="/facts/Kitt_Peak_National_Observatory/FBuoAAkz">Kitt Peak National Observatory</a> in 1996,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22"><sup>22</sup></a> and Abt's star (SV Crateris/ HD 98088/ ADS 8115) in the constellation <a href="/facts/Crater_(constellation)/2IGqIn0Y">Crater</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23"><sup>23</sup></a> were named in his honor. </p> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="https://www.aip.org/history-programs/niels-bohr-library/oral-histories/23364">Oral History interview transcript for Helmut Abt on 28 and 29 October 1999, American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library and Archives</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"Abt, Helmut". aaas.org. Archived from the original on 17 April 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2017. <a href="https://www.aaas.org/fellow/abt-helmut" target="_blank">https://www.aaas.org/fellow/abt-helmut</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"Interview". aip.org. 8 December 2014. Archived from the original on 17 April 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2017. <a href="https://www.aip.org/history-programs/niels-bohr-library/oral-histories/23364" target="_blank">https://www.aip.org/history-programs/niels-bohr-library/oral-histories/23364</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(9423) Abt". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 692. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_7509. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3. <a href="978-3-540-00238-3" target="_blank">978-3-540-00238-3</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"NOAO Astronomer Helmut Abt turns 90". National Optional Astronomy Observatory. 2015. Archived from the original on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019. <a href="https://www.noao.edu/news/2015/abt.php" target="_blank">https://www.noao.edu/news/2015/abt.php</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"NOIRLab Scientific staff". NOIRLab. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023. <a href="https://noirlab.edu/science/about/scientists-at-noirlab" target="_blank">https://noirlab.edu/science/about/scientists-at-noirlab</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Nemeh, Katherine H., ed. (2020). "Abt, Helmut Arthur". American Men & Women of Science: A Biographical Directory of Today's Leaders in Physical, Biological, and Related Sciences. Vol. 1 (38th ed.). Farmington Hills, Michigan: Gale. p. 40. ISBN 978-0-02-866695-2. ISSN 0000-1287. OCLC 1152235791. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023. <a href="978-0-02-866695-2" target="_blank">978-0-02-866695-2</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Cheng, K. S.; Leung, K. C.; Li, T. P., eds. (2003). "Helmut A. Abt". Stellar Astrophysics — A Tribute to Helmut A. Abt (PDF). Astrophysics and Space Science Library book series. Vol. 298. doi:10.1007/978-94-017-0403-8. ISBN 978-90-481-6452-3. ISSN 0067-0057. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019. <a href="978-90-481-6452-3" target="_blank">978-90-481-6452-3</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Cheng, K. S.; Leung, K. C.; Li, T. P., eds. (2003). "Helmut A. Abt". Stellar Astrophysics — A Tribute to Helmut A. Abt (PDF). Astrophysics and Space Science Library book series. Vol. 298. doi:10.1007/978-94-017-0403-8. ISBN 978-90-481-6452-3. ISSN 0067-0057. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019. <a href="978-90-481-6452-3" target="_blank">978-90-481-6452-3</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>Nemeh, Katherine H., ed. (2020). "Abt, Helmut Arthur". American Men & Women of Science: A Biographical Directory of Today's Leaders in Physical, Biological, and Related Sciences. Vol. 1 (38th ed.). Farmington Hills, Michigan: Gale. p. 40. ISBN 978-0-02-866695-2. ISSN 0000-1287. OCLC 1152235791. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023. <a href="978-0-02-866695-2" target="_blank">978-0-02-866695-2</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>"Helmut Abt". National Optical Astronomy Observatory. Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA). Archived from the original on 9 July 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2017. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170709123949/http://ast.noao.edu/about/people/abt" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20170709123949/http://ast.noao.edu/about/people/abt</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>"NOAO Astronomer Helmut Abt turns 90". National Optional Astronomy Observatory. 2015. Archived from the original on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019. <a href="https://www.noao.edu/news/2015/abt.php" target="_blank">https://www.noao.edu/news/2015/abt.php</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>Abt, Helmut Arthur (1952). An Analysis of the Variable Star W Virginis (PDF) (Ph.D.). Pasadena, California: California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/R3P7-KJ13. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2019. <a href="https://thesis.library.caltech.edu/1551/3/abt-helmut-arthur-thesis-1952.pdf" target="_blank">https://thesis.library.caltech.edu/1551/3/abt-helmut-arthur-thesis-1952.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Cheng, K. S.; Leung, K. C.; Li, T. P., eds. (2003). "Helmut A. Abt". Stellar Astrophysics — A Tribute to Helmut A. Abt (PDF). Astrophysics and Space Science Library book series. Vol. 298. doi:10.1007/978-94-017-0403-8. ISBN 978-90-481-6452-3. ISSN 0067-0057. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019. <a href="978-90-481-6452-3" target="_blank">978-90-481-6452-3</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>"Brief Introduction of Prof. Abt Helmut". Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics. ISSN 1674-4527. Archived from the original on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019. <a href="http://www.raa-journal.org/raa/index.php/raa/pages/view/1804_invited_author" target="_blank">http://www.raa-journal.org/raa/index.php/raa/pages/view/1804_invited_author</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>Nemeh, Katherine H., ed. (2020). "Abt, Helmut Arthur". American Men & Women of Science: A Biographical Directory of Today's Leaders in Physical, Biological, and Related Sciences. Vol. 1 (38th ed.). Farmington Hills, Michigan: Gale. p. 40. ISBN 978-0-02-866695-2. ISSN 0000-1287. OCLC 1152235791. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023. <a href="978-0-02-866695-2" target="_blank">978-0-02-866695-2</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>Cheng, K. S.; Leung, K. C.; Li, T. P., eds. (2003). "Helmut A. Abt". Stellar Astrophysics — A Tribute to Helmut A. Abt (PDF). Astrophysics and Space Science Library book series. Vol. 298. doi:10.1007/978-94-017-0403-8. ISBN 978-90-481-6452-3. ISSN 0067-0057. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019. <a href="978-90-481-6452-3" target="_blank">978-90-481-6452-3</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>"NOAO Astronomer Helmut Abt turns 90". National Optional Astronomy Observatory. 2015. Archived from the original on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019. <a href="https://www.noao.edu/news/2015/abt.php" target="_blank">https://www.noao.edu/news/2015/abt.php</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>"NOIRLab Scientific staff". NOIRLab. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023. <a href="https://noirlab.edu/science/about/scientists-at-noirlab" target="_blank">https://noirlab.edu/science/about/scientists-at-noirlab</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>Nemeh, Katherine H., ed. (2020). "Abt, Helmut Arthur". American Men & Women of Science: A Biographical Directory of Today's Leaders in Physical, Biological, and Related Sciences. Vol. 1 (38th ed.). Farmington Hills, Michigan: Gale. p. 40. ISBN 978-0-02-866695-2. ISSN 0000-1287. OCLC 1152235791. Archived from the original on 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023. <a href="978-0-02-866695-2" target="_blank">978-0-02-866695-2</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>Marvel, Kevin (2 December 2024). "Remembering Helmut Abt (1925 – 2024)". American Astronomical Society (AAS). Retrieved 6 December 2024. <a href="https://aas.org/posts/news/2024/12/remembering-helmut-abt-1925-2024" target="_blank">https://aas.org/posts/news/2024/12/remembering-helmut-abt-1925-2024</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:21"><p>"Brief Introduction of Prof. Abt Helmut". Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics. ISSN 1674-4527. Archived from the original on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019. <a href="http://www.raa-journal.org/raa/index.php/raa/pages/view/1804_invited_author" target="_blank">http://www.raa-journal.org/raa/index.php/raa/pages/view/1804_invited_author</a> <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:22"><p>Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(9423) Abt". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 692. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_7509. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3. <a href="978-3-540-00238-3" target="_blank">978-3-540-00238-3</a> <a href="#fnref:22" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:23"><p>Sky Catalogue 2000.0, Volume 2: Double Stars, Variable Stars and Nonstellar Objects - page xlv: Glossary of Selected Astronomical Names <a href="#fnref:23" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>