The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) is a research institute of the Smithsonian Institution, concentrating on astrophysical studies including galactic and extragalactic astronomy, cosmology, solar, earth and planetary sciences, theory and instrumentation, using observations at wavelengths from the highest energy gamma rays to the radio, along with gravitational waves. Established in Washington, D.C., in 1890, the SAO moved its headquarters in 1955 to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where its research is a collaboration with the Harvard College Observatory (HCO) and the Harvard University Department of Astronomy. In 1973, the Smithsonian and Harvard formalized the collaboration as the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) under a single Director.
History
Samuel Pierpont Langley, the third Secretary of the Smithsonian, founded the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory on the south yard of the Smithsonian Castle (on the U.S. National Mall) on March 1,1890. The Astrophysical Observatory's initial, primary purpose was to "record the amount and character of the Sun's heat1". Charles Greeley Abbot was named SAO's first director, and the observatory operated solar telescopes to take daily measurements of the Sun's intensity in different regions of the optical electromagnetic spectrum. In doing so, the observatory enabled Abbot to make critical refinements to the Solar constant, as well as to serendipitously discover Solar variability. It is likely that SAO's early history as a solar observatory was part of the inspiration behind the Smithsonian's "sunburst" logo, designed in 1965 by Crimilda Pontes.2
In 1955, the scientific headquarters of SAO moved from Washington, D.C. to Cambridge, Massachusetts to affiliate with the Harvard College Observatory (HCO).3 Fred Lawrence Whipple, then the chairman of the Harvard Astronomy Department, was named the new director of SAO. The collaborative relationship between SAO and HCO therefore predates the official creation of the CfA by 18 years. SAO's move to Harvard's campus also resulted in a rapid expansion of its research program. Following the launch of Sputnik (the world's first human-made satellite) in 1957, SAO accepted a national challenge4 to create a worldwide satellite-tracking network, collaborating with the United States Air Force on Project Space Track.5
With the creation of NASA the following year and throughout the space race, SAO led major efforts in the development of orbiting observatories and large ground-based telescopes, laboratory and theoretical astrophysics, as well as the application of computers to astrophysical problems.
| SAO Director | Years as Director |
|---|---|
| Samuel Pierpont Langley | 1890–1906 |
| Charles Greeley Abbot | 1906-1942 |
| Loyal Blaine Aldrich | 1942-1955 |
| Fred Lawrence Whipple | 1955-1973 |
| George B. Field | 1973-1982 |
| Irwin I. Shapiro | 1982-2004 |
| Charles R. Alcock | 2004-2022 |
| Lisa Kewley | 2022-present |
Remote stations
SAO has operated a number of remote stations over the years.67
SAO Today
The current director of the SAO is Lisa Kewley (2022 to present). There are currently about 170 research staff working at the SAO, including affiliated research staff. In addition, the SAO has about 120 postdoctoral researchers/fellows working in five competitive, associated fellowship programs: CfA, Clay, SMA, ITAMP, and Leon Van Speybroeck, or in support of a contract or grant. (Additional postdocs do research via Harvard fellowship programs or national/international fellowship awards); about 40% of the postdoctoral community are women and about 12% are from minority populations. SAO scientists can supervise Harvard Ph.D. students, and in addition they typically supervise about 30 graduate students from other institutions who are pursuing Ph.D. theses at the SAO. About thirty undergraduate students intern at the SAO each year. All together there are about 950 staff (including administrative and management department employees) working at the Center.
Directors
- Samuel Pierpont Langley 1890–19068
- Charles Greeley Abbot 1906–19429
- Loyal Blaine Aldrich 1942–195510
- Fred Lawrence Whipple 1955–197311
- George B. Field 1973–198212 (with the creation of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in 1973, the director of SAO and the Harvard College Observatory became a joint position)
- Irwin I. Shapiro 1982–200413
- Charles R. Alcock 2004–202214
- Lisa Kewley 2022–present15
Associates
See also
External links
- Media related to Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory at Wikimedia Commons
- SAO homepage
- Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian
42°22′53″N 71°07′42″W / 42.38146°N 71.12837°W / 42.38146; -71.12837
References
DeVorkin, David H. (2018). Fred Whipple's Empire: The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, 1955-1973. Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press. ↩
Anonymous (2020-03-24). "Crimilda Pontes: The Original Designer of the Smithsonian Sunburst". Smithsonian Institution Archives. Retrieved 2020-04-29. https://siarchives.si.edu/blog/crimilda-pontes-original-designer-smithsonian-sunburst ↩
DeVorkin, David H. (2018). Fred Whipple's Empire: The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, 1955-1973. Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press. ↩
Spiller, James (2015). "Rising to the Sputnik Challenge". In Spiller, James (ed.). Frontiers for the American Century. Palgrave Studies in the History of Science and Technology. Palgrave Macmillan US. pp. 21–64. doi:10.1057/9781137507877_2. ISBN 978-1-137-50787-7. 978-1-137-50787-7 ↩
Sturdevant, Rick W. (Winter 2008). "From Satellite Tracking to Space Situational Awareness: The USAF and Space Surveillance: 1957 to 2007" (PDF). Air Power History. U.S. Air Force Historical Society. Retrieved 2021-06-23. https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/Portals/16/documents/Airmen-at-War/Sturdevant-USAFspaceSurveillance1957-2007.pdf ↩
Wright, F. W.; Hodge, P. W. (1965). "The Volcanic Dust Sampling Program of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observing Stations". SAO Special Report #172 (1965). 172: 172. Bibcode:1965SAOSR.172.....W. /wiki/Bibcode_(identifier) ↩
Roosen, Robert G.; Angione, Ronald J. (1977). "Variations in Atmospheric Water Vapor: Baseline Results from Smithsonian Observations". Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. 89: 814. Bibcode:1977PASP...89..814R. doi:10.1086/130233. https://doi.org/10.1086%2F130233 ↩
"SAO Directors: 1834 - Present". Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Retrieved 2015-09-03. https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/about/sao-directors ↩
"SAO Directors: 1834 - Present". Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Retrieved 2015-09-03. https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/about/sao-directors ↩
"SAO Directors: 1834 - Present". Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Retrieved 2015-09-03. https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/about/sao-directors ↩
"SAO Directors: 1834 - Present". Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Retrieved 2015-09-03. https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/about/sao-directors ↩
"SAO Directors: 1834 - Present". Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Retrieved 2015-09-03. https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/about/sao-directors ↩
"SAO Directors: 1834 - Present". Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Retrieved 2015-09-03. https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/about/sao-directors ↩
"Charles Alcock Named Director of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics". Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Retrieved 2015-09-17. https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/news/archive/pr0417.html ↩
"Lisa Kewley Named Director of the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian". 2022-03-14. Retrieved 2022-08-16. https://pweb.cfa.harvard.edu/news/lisa-kewley-named-director-center-astrophysics-harvard-smithsonian ↩