Alcock Appointed Director of Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

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Summary

Charles R. Alcock is appointed director of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, part of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Previously Dr. Alcock was the Reese W. Flower professor of astronomy and astrophysics in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, where he focused his research on massive compact halo objects, comets and asteroids. Alcock will hold several titles simultaneously: director of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA), director of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, director of the Harvard College Observatory, and professor of astronomy at Harvard University. He received his doctorate in astronomy and physics in 1977 from the California Institute of Technology. He succeeds Irwin Shapiro, who has been director of CfA since 1983, and who will continue research as the Timken university professor at Harvard and senior scientist at SAO.

Subject

  • Alcock, Charles R
  • Shapiro, Irwin I
  • Harvard University
  • Harvard College Observatory
  • Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
  • Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

Category

Chronology of Smithsonian History

Notes

Smithsonian Torch, June 2004, pp. 1, 3

Contact information

Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Institution Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu

Date

August 1, 2004

Topic

  • Astrophysicists
  • Astrophysics
  • Directors

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