Geoffrey Marcy
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This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2009) |
| Geoffrey Marcy | |
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| Born | September 29, 1954 |
| Nationality | American |
| Fields | Astronomy, Astrophysics |
| Institutions | Carnegie Institution for Science San Francisco State University University of California, Berkeley |
| Alma mater | University of California, Los Angeles (B.A.) University of California, Santa Cruz (Ph.D.) |
| Doctoral advisor | Steven S. Vogt [1] |
| Known for | Extrasolar planet discoveries |
| Notable awards | Henry Draper Medal (2001) Shaw Prize (2005) |
Geoffrey W. Marcy (born September 29, 1954, St. Clair Shores, Michigan) is an American astronomer, who is currently Professor of Astronomy at the University of California, Berkeley, famous for discovering more extrasolar planets than anyone else, 70 out of the first 100 to be discovered, along with R. Paul Butler and Debra Fischer.[2]
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Background [edit]
Marcy graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Summa Cum Laude with a double major in physics and astronomy from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1976. He then completed a Doctor of Philosophy in Astrophysics and Astronomy in 1982 at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
He has held teaching positions, first at the Carnegie Institution of Washington as a Carnegie Fellow from 1982 to 1984. Marcy then worked as an Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy from 1984 to 1996 and then as a Distinguished University Professor from 1997 to 1999 at the San Francisco State University. He is currently an Adjunct Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the San Francisco State University and a Professor of Astronomy at the University of California, Berkeley and the Director of Center for Integrative Planetary Science.
Astronomy career [edit]
In the early 1980s, his research into stellar magnetic fields had reached a dead end.
Marcy confirmed Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz's discovery of the first extrasolar planet orbiting a Sun-like star—51 Pegasi b. Other achievements have included discovering the first multiple planet system around a star similar to our own (Upsilon Andromedae), the first transiting planet around another star (HD209458b), the first extrasolar planet orbiting beyond 5 AU (55 Cancri d), and the first Neptune-sized planets (Gliese 436b and 55 Cancri e). As of June 8, 2012, Marcy is the Watson and Marilyn Alberts Chair for SETI at the University of California at Berkeley.[3]
In the media [edit]
- He is featured on History Channel's "The Universe" programs.
- He was interviewed by Planetary Radio at least three times.
- He appeared in the PBS Nova episode "Hunt for Alien Worlds" originally airing in Feb. 1997
Research Achievements [edit]
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This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (September 2011) |
- Made First Zeeman Measurements of Magnetic Fields for Solar-Type Stars
- Found Paucity of Brown Dwarfs Orbiting Stars (The Brown Dwarf Desert)
- Developed Method of Precise Doppler Measurements (3 meter/sec)
- Discovered 70 of first 100 Extrasolar Planets Known
- Found Evidence that Solar System May be Peculiar (Circular vs Eccentric Orbits)
- Discovered First System of Planets Around a Sun-Like Star (Upsilon And)
- Discovered First Transiting Planet Around another Star (HD209458)
- Discovered First Candidate Saturn-Mass Planets (HD46375, HD16141)
- Discovered First Extrasolar Planet Orbiting Beyond 5 AU (55 Cancri d)
- Co-Discovered First Neptune-Sized Planets: Gliese 436b and 55 Cancri e
Honors [edit]
- Henry Draper Medal of the National Academy of Sciences with R. Paul Butler (2001)[4]
- Shaw Prize with Michel Mayor (2005)
- Carl Sagan Prize for Science Popularization from Wonderfest (2009)[5]
- Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2010)[6]
On October 28, 2006 he received an honorary doctorate in science from the University of Delaware.
On June 9, 2012 he received an honorary doctorate in science from The University of Chicago.
Personal [edit]
Marcy lives with his wife Susan Kegley in California.
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ Tim Stephens (September 4, 2007). "Major gift supports crucial piece of Automated Planet Finder". University of California, Santa Cruz. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
- ^ Lemonick, Michael (Dec. 16, 2009). "Super-Earth: Astronomers Find a Watery New Planet". Time Magazine. Retrieved 17 December 2009.
- ^ Dvorsky, George (June 8, 2012). "Meet SETI’s new boss: Geoff Marcy, the planet hunter". Retrieved June 14, 2012.
- ^ "Henry Draper Medal". National Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
- ^ "Sagan Prize Recipients". wonderfest.org. 2011 [last update]. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
- ^ "Book of Members, 1780–2010: Chapter A". American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
External links [edit]
- Marcy's homepage at UC Berkeley
- Autobiography
- Interview with Dr. Geoff Marcy on Smart People Podcast (July 26, 2011)
- Interview with Geoff Marcy (March 11, 2009)
- Interview with Geoff Marcy (February 1, 2011)
- 1954 births
- Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences
- Living people
- American astronomers
- San Francisco State University faculty
- University of California, Santa Cruz alumni
- Winners of the Beatrice M. Tinsley Prize
- University of California, Berkeley faculty
- University of California, Los Angeles alumni
- Discoverers of extrasolar planets
- National Academy of Sciences laureates
- Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
- 21st-century astronomers
- 20th-century astronomers
