Jesse L. Greenstein

Jesse Leonard Greenstein (* October 15, 1909 in New York, NY, USA; † 21 October 2002) was an American astronomer.

Life and work

In 1929 he graduated with a Bachelor and 1930 with a Master of Science at Harvard University. This was followed in 1937 nor the doctorate.

From 1937 to 1948, he was then employed at the Yerkes Observatory. He then moved to the California Institute of Technology ( CalTech ). There he became the founder of the training program for astronomy and remained so until 1972. During this mission, he was also at Palomar Observatory and Mount Wilson Observatory operates. In 1980, he officially retired from the faculty of from CalTech.

His main interest was the physics of astronomical objects, and especially of the quasars. He has discovered over 500 white dwarfs.

He died as a result of a fall he suffered three days earlier, and with whom he had broken his hip.

Family

Greenstein was married for 68 years with Naomi Kitay Greenstein, who had died shortly before him. From the couple had two sons, Peter and George.

Honors

In addition, he was appointed to the National Academy of Sciences, was California Scientist of the Year, received a NASA Medal. The asteroid 4612 Greenstein is also named after him.