Shoemaker, Carolyn

Shoemaker, Carolyn

▪ American astronomer
née  Carolyn Spellman 
born June 24, 1929, Gallup, N.M., U.S.

      American astronomer who became an expert at identifying comets (comet). With her husband, Gene Shoemaker (Shoemaker, Gene), and David H. Levy (Levy, David H.), she discovered the Shoemaker-Levy 9 (Shoemaker-Levy 9, Comet) comet in 1993.

      Spellman received bachelor's and master's degrees from Chico (Calif.) State College, having studied history, political science, and English literature. She married Gene Shoemaker, a geologist who was also interested in astronomy, on Aug. 18, 1951. After teaching high school for a year, Carolyn remained at home to raise their three children. When their children left home years later, she began helping her husband search for asteroids and comets, a task at which she became an expert. In 1980 Carolyn accepted a position as a visiting scientist with the astrogeology branch of the United States Geological Survey and in 1989 also began serving as research professor of astronomy at Northern Arizona University. Both Carolyn and Gene were on the staff of Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, Ariz. By 1994 Carolyn had 32 comet discoveries to her credit, which was more than anyone alive at that time.

  Teaming with fellow comet hunter Levy at the Palomar Observatory in southern California in March 1993, the Shoemakers discovered a fragmented comet (later named Shoemaker-Levy 9) in orbit around the planet Jupiter. For six days between July 16 and 22, 1994, the three watched anxiously through telescopes as the major fragments of the comet collided with Jupiter. Following months of speculation as to what the impacts would entail, the event itself proved equal to the most optimistic predictions. From the atmosphere of a bruised and battered Jupiter arose tall, bright plumes that left broad, dark stains beneath them, providing a spectacular show for sky watchers around the world.
 

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Shoemaker, Carolyn and Eugene, and Levy, David — ▪ 1995        For six days between July 16 and 22, 1994, Carolyn Shoemaker, her husband Eugene, and fellow comet hunter David Levy peered anxiously through telescopes to watch the estimated 21 major fragments of the comet they had jointly… …   Universalium

  • Carolyn Jean Spellmann Shoemaker — Carolyn S. Shoemaker Carolyn Shoemaker et le télescope de Schmidt de 46 cm de l observatoire du Mont Palomar Carolyn Jean Spellmann Shoemaker (née le 24 juin 1929 à Gallup (Nouveau Mexique)) est une astronome américaine qui est particulièrement… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Carolyn Shoemaker — Carolyn S. Shoemaker Carolyn Shoemaker et le télescope de Schmidt de 46 cm de l observatoire du Mont Palomar Carolyn Jean Spellmann Shoemaker (née le 24 juin 1929 à Gallup (Nouveau Mexique)) est une astronome américaine qui est particulièrement… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Carolyn Spellmann Shoemaker — Carolyn S. Shoemaker Carolyn Shoemaker et le télescope de Schmidt de 46 cm de l observatoire du Mont Palomar Carolyn Jean Spellmann Shoemaker (née le 24 juin 1929 à Gallup (Nouveau Mexique)) est une astronome américaine qui est particulièrement… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Carolyn S. Shoemaker — Carolyn Shoemaker am 46 cm Schmidt Teleskop des Palomar Observatoriums Carolyn Jean Spellmann Shoemaker (* 24. Juni 1929 in Gallup, New Mexico) ist eine US amerikanische Astronomin. Sie gehört zu den Entdeckern des Kometen Shoemaker Levy 9 und is …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Carolyn Shoemaker — am 46 cm Schmidt Teleskop des Palomar Observatoriums Carolyn Jean Spellmann Shoemaker (* 24. Juni 1929 in Gallup, New Mexico) ist eine US amerikanische Astronomin. Sie gehört zu den Entdeckern des Kometen Shoemaker Levy 9 und is …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Carolyn Shoemaker — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Carolyn Shoemaker Carolyn Jean Spellmann Shoemaker (Gallup, Nuevo México, 1929) es una astrónoma norteamericana, viuda del también astrónomo Eugene Shoemaker y que ostenta e …   Wikipedia Español

  • Shoemaker, Gene — ▪ American astrogeologist byname of  Eugene Merle Shoemaker  born April 28, 1928, Los Angeles, Calif., U.S. died July 18, 1997, near Alice Springs, N.Terr., Austl.       American astrogeologist who along with his wife, Carolyn Shoemaker… …   Universalium

  • Carolyn S. Shoemaker — Carolyn Shoemaker et le télescope de Schmidt de 46 cm de l observatoire du Mont Palomar Carolyn Jean Spellmann Shoemaker (née le 24 juin 1929 à Gallup (Nouveau Mexique)) est une astronome américaine qui est particulièrement connue pour avoir co… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Carolyn S. Shoemaker — Carolyn Jean Spellmann Shoemaker (born June 24, 1929, in Gallup, New Mexico) is a co discoverer of Comet Shoemaker Levy 9 and is the widow of the late Eugene Shoemaker.Shoemaker holds the record for most comets discovered by an individual. She… …   Wikipedia

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