Background
PETTENGILL, Gordon was born on February 10, 1926 in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Son of Rodney G. Pettengill and Frances (Hemenway) Pettengill.
professor of planetary physics
PETTENGILL, Gordon was born on February 10, 1926 in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Son of Rodney G. Pettengill and Frances (Hemenway) Pettengill.
Bachelor of Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1948; Doctor of Philosophy, University of California, Berkeley, 1955.
Director Arecibo Observatory, Puerto Rico (operated by Cornell University) 1968-1970. Professor, of Planetary Physics, Department, of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Director Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Space Research 1984-1990.
Involved in the study of the solar system using radar and radio techniques.
Discovered 3/2 spin-orbit resonance of Mercury 1965. Pioneered delay-doppler radar mapping of planets.
Principle investigator of Pioneer Venus Radar Mapper 81, since 1990.
Served with infantry, Signal Corps Army of the United States, 1944-1946. Fellow American Geophysical Union (Whipple award 1995, Charles A. Whitten award 1997). Member American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Physical Society, American Astronomical Society, International Astronomical Union, International Radio Science Union, National Academy Science, American Academy Arts and Science.
Married Pamela Anne Wolfenden, October 28, 1967. Children— Mark Robert, Rebecca Jane.