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Arlo U. Landolt

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Arlo U. Landolt
Landolt standing next to the Kitt Peak National Observatory's 16-inch telescope circa 1960
Landolt with the Kitt Peak National Observatory's 16-inch telescope c. 1960
Born
Arlo Udell Landolt

(1935-09-29)September 29, 1935
Highland, Illinois, U.S.
DiedJanuary 21, 2022(2022-01-21) (aged 86)
Alma mater
Spouse
Eunice J. Casper
​
(m. 1966)​
AwardsGeorge van Biesbroeck Prize (1995)
Scientific career
Fields
InstitutionsLouisiana State University
ThesisA Photometric Investigation of the Galactic Clusters NGC 6087 and M25 (1963)
Doctoral advisorJohn B. Irwin

Arlo Udell Landolt (September 29, 1935 – January 21, 2022) was an American astronomer known for his widely used photometric standards.[1][2]

Life and career

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Early life

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Landolt was born in Highland, Illinois to farmers Arlo M. Landolt and Vesta Kraus Landolt [3] 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.[3] All of Landolt's relatives, like his parents, were farmers.[3] After finishing grade school, he was the first of his family to go the high school.[3] 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.[3] He was involved in 4H clubs and projects.[3] 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.[3] He would sell the hogs to get a Funk and Wagnall’s Encyclopedia set.[3] He graduated from Highland High School in 1952.

Education

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After graduating, he wanted to attend M.I.T, but his family could not afford it.[3] 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.[3] 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.[3] Early on, he took a course on astronomy which he credits to be the start of his interest in that science.[3] 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[3] 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.[3] He was stationed at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station[3] with a group led by Paul Siple and it consisted of 9 other scientists, 9 Navy Sea-Bees, and a husky dog.[4] He was hired as an aurora and air glow scientist[3] along with the others hired to go on the expedition. He came back from the expedition during Christmas time in 1957.[3] He received his Ph.D. in 1962 from Indiana University.[5] 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.[3]

Research career

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Photo of Landolt holding an award in 2014
Landolt in 2014 with an award from Kitt Peak National Observatory

After graduating, Landolt served on committees with many organizations and was eventually elected Secretary of the American Astronomical Society.[4] This occurred for 3 terms.[4] He spent one year working for the National Science Foundation in Washington, D.C.[4]

In his later years, he became reacquainted with a high school classmate, Eunice Casper.[4] 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.[4]

He worked principally in photometry and published a number of widely used lists[6][7][8] of standard stars.[5][9]

Landolt died on January 21, 2022, at the age of 86.[10]

Honors and awards

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Mount Landolt in Ellsworth Land, Antarctica is named in his honor, as well as the Landolt Astronomical Observatory at Louisiana State University and the asteroid 15072 Landolt.[2][9]

References

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  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 Clayton, Geoffrey; Frank, Juhan (2022-01-01). "Arlo U. Landolt (1935–2022)". Bulletin of the AAS. 54 (1). American Astronomical Society. doi:10.3847/25c2cfeb.967352fd. ISSN 0002-7537.
  3. ^ 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
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Arlo U. Landolt Obituary (1935 - 2022) The Advocate". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2022-08-10.
  5. ^ a b Arlo U. Landolt, web page at Louisiana State University. Accessed on line September 19, 2007.
  6. ^ UBVRI photometric standard stars around the celestial equator, Arlo U. Landolt, Astronomical Journal, 88, #3 (March 1983), pp. 439–460.
  7. ^ UBV photoelectric sequences in the celestial equatorial selected areas 92–115, Arlo U. Landolt, Astronomical Journal, 78, #9 (November 1973), pp. 959–981.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ a b 15072 Landolt (1999 BS12), web page from the JPL Small-Body Database Browser. Accessed on line September 19, 2007.
  10. ^ "Arlo U. Landolt". Legacy. 23 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  11. ^ George Van Biesbroeck Prize, AAS website.
  12. ^ "Arlo U. Landolt named 2015 Leslie C. Peltier Award Recipient". Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  13. ^ "AAS Fellows". AAS. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  14. ^ "The William Tyler Olcott Distinguished Service Award". American Association of Variable Star Observers. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
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Archival collections

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