Herbert Gursky

Background

Gursky, Herbert was born on May 27, 1930 in Bronx, New York, United States. Son of Joseph Mayer and Sonia Pauline (Balen) Gursky.

Education

University of Florida, Bachelor of Surgery, Physics (1951)

Vanderbilt University, Master of Surgery, Physics (1953)

Princeton University, Doctor of Philosophy., Physics (1958).

Career

Doctor Gursky"s research activities have concentrated in the area of X-ray astronomy. He has published more than 100 articles in this area and has edited two books on the subject. He was the Principal Investigator for National Aeronautics and Space Administration sponsored space programs on the Astronomical Netherlands Satellite and the 1st High Energy Astrophysics Observatory (Hoger Economisch en Administratief Onderwijs-1) satellite and a co-investigator on numerous other rocket and satellite experiments.

In addition, Doctor Gursky managed research activities encompassing solar physics and magnetospheric research while at AS&East and programs of ground-based astronomy and infrared astronomy at SAO, where he also oversaw the completion of the Multiple Mirror Telescope, a joint program of SAO and the University of Arizona, comprising a 4.5 meter (Equivalent) telescope of novel design that is situated at Mountain.

Hopkins in Arizona. Doctor Gursky died of gastric cancer. 1957-1958 Instructor, Physics Department, Princeton University 1958-1961 Instructor, Physics Department, Columbia University 1961-1970 Senior Scientist, American Science & Engineering.

Incorporated. 1970-1973 Vice President and Director, Space Research Division, American Science & Engineering.

Incorporated. 1970-1973 Associate, Harvard College Observatory 1973-1981 Supervisory Astrophysicist. Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory 1973-1975 Lecturer on Astronomy.

Harvard University 1975-1981 Professor in the Practice of Astronomy, Harvard University 1976-1981 Associate Director, Optical and Infrared Astronomy. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics 1981-2006 Superintendent, Space Science Division, Naval Research Laboratory 1981-2006 Chief Scientist, East. O. Hulburt Center for Space Research, Naval Research Laboratory.

Achievements

• Herbert Gursky has been listed as a noteworthy Research executive, astrophysicist by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

Doctor Gursky is best known as a member of the group that made the discovery of cosmic X-ray sources in 1961, his work with sounding rockets (he actually launched the June 12, 1962 rocket) that culminated in the optical identification of the bright X-ray source Scorpio X-1 in 1966, and later Cygnus X-1, his work on clusters of galaxies and the diffuse X-ray background from the Uhuru Satellite and the discovery of X-ray bursters on the Astronomical Netherlands Satellite.

Connections

Married Flora Pauline Aronson, September 13, 1958. Children: David Meyer, Robert Aaron.

Father:

Joseph Mayer Gursky

Mother:

Sonia Pauline (Balen) Gursky

Spouse:

Flora Pauline Aronson

child:

David Meyer Gursky

child:

Robert Aaron Gursky