Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
Aug 2007
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2007iaus..240...28m&link_type=abstract
Binary Stars as Critical Tools & Tests in Contemporary Astrophysics, Proceedings of IAU Symposium #240, held 22-25 August, 2006
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Scientific paper
In keeping with its co-sponsorship by members of both the "close" and "wide" binary star communities, IAU Symposium 240 has been jointly dedicated to the honor of Czech astronomer Mirek J. Plavec and the memory of U.S. astronomer Charles E. Worley. Charles Worley, astronomer at the U.S. Naval Observatory, died at the age of 62 on Dec. 31, 1997, following a short illness. Upon arriving at the U.S. Naval Observatory in 1961, he was the motive force behind an extensive program of double star observation. With his filar micrometer he obtained the third largest number of double star measurements ever achieved by one person. In 1965 Charles arranged for the database of double star data, the Index Catalogue of Visual Double Stars (IDS), to be transferred from the Lick Observatory to the USNO in Washington and it was redesignated the WDS. This database has become a truly comprehensive resource under his guidance, and is formally recognized as the international source of double star data by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). In collaboration with William Finsen and later Wulff Heintz, Charles produced two Catalogs of Orbits of Visual Binary Stars. In the twilight years of his career, he recognized the value of speckle interferometry as a technique with enhanced precision and accuracy over filar micrometry and helped the USNO obtain a speckle interferometer in order to improve the accuracy of double star measurements. His special interest in nearby stars led to the discovery of 39 new, cool stellar companions. These companions which are faint and difficult to observe provide critical census information on the solar neighborhood. From 1954 to 1997 he published some 75 professional papers primarily on double star astronomy and gave numerous invited presentations at meetings. He was known for exacting standards and high quality best typified by his paper challenging all other double star observers; "Is This Orbit Really Necessary?". His inspiration is an example to many of us in the visual double-star community.
Corbin Thomas E.
Douglass Geoffrey G.
Hartkopf William I.
Mason Brian D.
No associations
LandOfFree
Charles Edmund Worley (1935-1997) does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Charles Edmund Worley (1935-1997), we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Charles Edmund Worley (1935-1997) will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-975433