Spitzer, Lyman, Jr.

Spitzer, Lyman, Jr. (1914–  ) astrophysicist; born in Toledo, Ohio. He was a fellow at Harvard (1938–39), then taught at Yale (1939–42, 1946–47). He investigated military undersea and sonar projects at Columbia University (1942–46), before joining Princeton as head of the department of astrophysical sciences and the observatory (1947). He applied theoretical physics to studies of star formation, and performed pioneering research in controlled nuclear fusion, plasma physics, and the use of artificial satellites as telescope stations. In 1985 he won the prestigious Crafoord Prize for his studies of the Copernicus satellite's findings on the interstellar medium (1972–81), the "stuff" from which stars are formed.