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Arlo U. Landolt

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Arlo U. Landolt
Born(1935-09-29)September 29, 1935
Highland, Illinois, U.S.
DiedJanuary 21, 2022(2022-01-21) (aged 86)
Alma materIndiana University
AwardsGeorge van Biesbroeck Prize (1995)
Scientific career
FieldsAstronomy, photometry
InstitutionsLouisiana State University

Arlo Udell Landolt (September 29, 1935 – January 21, 2022) was an American astronomer.[1]

Life and career

Landolt was born in Highland, Illinois to farmers Arlo M. Landolt and Vesta Kraus Landolt [2] on September 29, 1935. He was the oldest of 4 (one brother, 2 sisters) Darnell M., Faye Beth, Sheryl Sue. He attended a one-room country grade school called IXL Country Grade School. He graduated grade school in 7 of 8 years because they accelerated his education.[2] All of Landolt's relatives, like his parents, were farmers.[2] After finishing grade school, he was the first of his family to go the high school.[2] While in high school he took all the classes for agriculture. It was not until later on that Landolt showed interest in mathematics, physics, and the sciences.[2] He was involved in 4H clubs and projects.[2] He would base his projects on the hogs on their farm but would try to use the purebred over the crossed and mixed breeds that his father would raise.[2] He would sell the hogs to get a Funk and Wagnall’s Encyclopedia set.[2] He graduated from Highland High School in 1952.

After graduating, he wanted to attend M.I.T, but his family could not afford it.[2] He instead attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio for his undergraduate studies. He planned to transfer to M.I.T after his 3rd year in a program offered by the university, but decided to complete his schooling there.[2] In order to attend the university he had a job as a busboy and washing dishes in the dorms as well as some help from his parents for tuition.[2] Early on, he took a course on astronomy which he credits to be the start of his interest in that science.[2] He wanted to push through college so he attended for 3 years and 2 summers. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and physics from Miami University in 1955.

He began his graduate studies at age 19[2] at Indiana University in 1955. He attended for almost 7 years, 5 years being on campus and nearly 2 years being in the Antarctic after signing up for an expedition with the International Geophysical Year. The expedition was offered through the Arctic Institute of North America.[2] He was stationed at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station[2] with a group lead by Paul Siple and it consisted of 9 other scientists, 9 Navy Sea-Bees, and a husky dog.[3] He was hired as an aurora and air glow scientist[2] along with the others hired to go on the expedition. He came back from the expedition during Christmas time in 1957.[2] He received his Ph.D. in 1962 from Indiana University.[4] Although he finished all requirements for his degree in 1962, he had not received his degree until June 1963 and that is what is officially on the degree.[2]

After graduating, Landolt served on committees with many organizations and was eventually elected Secretary of A.A.S.[3] This occurred for 3 terms.[3] He spent one year working for the N.S.F. in Washington, D.C.[3]

In his later years, he became reacquainted with a high school classmate, Eunice Casper.[3] They got married and he helped raise her 4 daughters ages 6, 7, 8, and 10. They later had a daughter of their own named Jennifer Landolt Boutte.[3]

He worked principally in photometry and published a number of widely used lists[5][6][7] of standard stars.[4][8] The asteroid 15072 Landolt is named after him.[8] Mount Landolt is also named for him.

Landolt died on January 21, 2022, at the age of 86.[9]

Honors and awards

References

  1. ^ R.R. Bowker Company. Database Publishing Group (2009). American Men & Women of Science. Vol. 4. Bowker. ISBN 9781414433042. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Interview of Arlo Landolt by David DeVorkin on 1996 October 31, Niels Bohr Library & Archives, American Institute of Physics, College Park, MD USA, www.aip.org/history-programs/niels-bohr-library/oral-histories/5922
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Arlo U. Landolt Obituary (1935 - 2022) The Advocate". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2022-08-10.
  4. ^ a b Arlo U. Landolt, web page at Louisiana State University. Accessed on line September 19, 2007.
  5. ^ UBVRI photometric standard stars around the celestial equator, Arlo U. Landolt, Astronomical Journal, 88, #3 (March 1983), pp. 439–460.
  6. ^ UBV photoelectric sequences in the celestial equatorial selected areas 92–115, Arlo U. Landolt, Astronomical Journal, 78, #9 (November 1973), pp. 959–981.
  7. ^ UBVRI photometric standard stars in the magnitude range 11.5<V<16.0 around the celestial equator, Arlo U. Landolt, Astronomical Journal 104, #1 (July 1992), pp. 340–371, 436–491.
  8. ^ a b 15072 Landolt (1999 BS12), web page from the JPL Small-Body Database Browser. Accessed on line September 19, 2007.
  9. ^ "Arlo U. Landolt". Legacy. 23 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  10. ^ George Van Biesbroeck Prize, AAS website.
  11. ^ "Arlo U. Landolt named 2015 Leslie C. Peltier Award Recipient". Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  12. ^ "AAS Fellows". AAS. Retrieved 29 September 2020.


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