James Edward Keeler American astronomer. Date of Birth: 10.09.1857 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Education
2. Observatory Work and Research
3. Saturn's Rings and Spiral Nebulae
4. Journal Editorship and Honors
5. Legacy

Early Life and Education

William Wallace Campbell, an American astronomer, was born in La Salle, Illinois, in 1858. He studied at the University of Michigan and earned his doctorate from Johns Hopkins University in 1881.

Observatory Work and Research

Campbell worked at the Allegheny Observatory and later studied in Germany under Robert Bunsen and Hermann von Helmholtz. He then returned to Allegheny and, in 1886, became the director of the Lick Observatory.

Throughout his career, Campbell focused on studying the spectra of nebulae and planets. He demonstrated that gaseous nebulae possess measurable radial velocities and measured the radial velocities of several diffuse and planetary nebulae.

Saturn's Rings and Spiral Nebulae

Campbell made notable observations of Saturn's rings, discovering that the inner edge rotated faster than the outer edge. This finding supported James Maxwell's theory that the rings were composed of independent particles.

Using the Crosley Reflecting Telescope at Lick Observatory, Campbell photographed and categorized nebulae, observing a predominance of spiral nebulae, which were later identified as galaxies.

Journal Editorship and Honors

Campbell and George Ellery Hale founded the "Astrophysical Journal" and served as its first editors. He became a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 1900.

Campbell received the Rumford Medal from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Draper Medal from the National Academy of Sciences.

Legacy

In recognition of his contributions, a lunar crater, a Martian crater, asteroid 2261, and the Keeler Gap in Saturn's A Ring are named after Campbell.