J. Allen Hynek

American astronomer (1910–1986)
Person human Q350468
J. Allen Hynek
United States Government · Public Domain · Wikimedia
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J. Allen Hynek

Summary

J. Allen Hynek is a human[1]. He was born in Chicago[2]. He was born on May 1, 1910[3]. He died in Scottsdale[4]. He died on April 27, 1986[5]. He worked as an astronomer[6], astrophysicist[7], ufologist[8], university teacher[9], and physicist[10]. He ranks in the top 0.7% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (1,037 views/month, #6,961 of 1,000,298).[11]

Key Facts

  • Born in Chicago[2], J. Allen Hynek…
  • J. Allen Hynek died in Scottsdale[4].
  • J. Allen Hynek was born on May 1, 1910[3].
  • J. Allen Hynek died on April 27, 1986[5].
  • A child of J. Allen Hynek was Joel Hynek[12].
  • J. Allen Hynek held citizenship in United States[13].
  • J. Allen Hynek's professions included astronomer[6].
  • J. Allen Hynek worked as an astrophysicist[7].
  • J. Allen Hynek worked as an ufologist[8].
  • J. Allen Hynek's professions included university teacher[9].
  • J. Allen Hynek's professions included physicist[10].
  • J. Allen Hynek's professions included writer[14].
  • J. Allen Hynek's field of work was astronomy[15].
  • J. Allen Hynek's field of work was unidentified flying object[16].
  • J. Allen Hynek held the position of professor[17].
  • J. Allen Hynek was employed by Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory[18].
  • Among J. Allen Hynek's employers was Yerkes Observatory[19].
  • Among J. Allen Hynek's employers was Ohio University[20].
  • J. Allen Hynek was employed by Harvard University[21].
  • Among J. Allen Hynek's employers was Northwestern University[22].
  • Among J. Allen Hynek's employers was Project Sign[23].
  • J. Allen Hynek was educated at University of Chicago[24].
  • J. Allen Hynek's education included a stint at Crane High School[25].
  • J. Allen Hynek's doctoral advisor was Otto Struve[26].
  • J. Allen Hynek's doctoral advisor was William Wilson Morgan[27].

Body

Origins and Family

J. Allen Hynek's place of birth was Chicago[2]. He was born on May 1, 1910[3].

Education

Educated at University of Chicago[24], a private university[28], in United States[29], founded in 1890[30], headquartered in Chicago[31] and Crane High School[25], a high school[32], in United States[33], founded in 1890[34]. Doctoral advisors include Otto Struve[26], an astronomer[35], 1897–1963[36], of Russian Empire[37], awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship[38], specialised in astronomy[39] and William Wilson Morgan[27], an astronomer[40], 1906–1994[41], of United States[42], awarded the Henry Draper Medal[43]. J. Allen Hynek earned the academic degree of Doctor of Philosophy[44].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include astronomer[6], astrophysicist[7], ufologist[8], university teacher[9], physicist[10], and writer[14]. Fields of work include astronomy[15], a branch of science[45] and unidentified flying object[16]. Employers include Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory[18], a laboratory[46], in United States[47], founded in 1942[48]; Yerkes Observatory[19], an astronomical observatory[49], in United States[50], founded in 1895[51], headquartered in Williams Bay[52]; Ohio University[20], a public university[53], in United States[54], founded in 1804[55], headquartered in Athens[56]; Harvard University[21], a private university[57], in United States[58], founded in 1636[59], headquartered in Cambridge[60]; Northwestern University[22], a private university[61], in United States[62], founded in 1851[63], headquartered in Evanston[64]; and Project Sign[23], an inquiry[65]. J. Allen Hynek held the position of professor[17]. He supervised Jacques Vallée as a doctoral student[66].

Works and Contributions

Notable works include proximity fuze[67]; Center for UFO Studies[68], a business[69], in United States[70], founded in 1973[71], headquartered in Chicago[72]; and close encounter[73].

Personal Life

A child of J. Allen Hynek was Joel Hynek[12].

Death and Burial

J. Allen Hynek died on April 27, 1986[5]. He died in Scottsdale[4]. The cause of death was brain cancer[74].

Why It Matters

J. Allen Hynek ranks in the top 0.7% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (1,037 views/month, #6,961 of 1,000,298).[11] He has Wikipedia articles in 21 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[75] He is known by 28 alternative names across languages and contexts.[76]

He is credited with the discovery of close encounter[77].

His notable doctoral advisees include Jacques Vallée[78], an astronomer[79], b. 1939[80], of France[81], awarded the Prix Jules-Verne[82], specialised in computer science[83].

FAQs

Where was J. Allen Hynek born?

J. Allen Hynek's place of birth was Chicago[2].

Where did J. Allen Hynek die?

J. Allen Hynek passed away in Scottsdale[4].

What did J. Allen Hynek do for work?

J. Allen Hynek worked as astronomer[6], astrophysicist[7], ufologist[8], university teacher[9], and physicist[10].

Where did J. Allen Hynek go to school?

J. Allen Hynek was educated at University of Chicago[24] and Crane High School[25].

What did J. Allen Hynek discover?

J. Allen Hynek is credited as discoverer of close encounter[77].

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

  1. [2] . Find a Grave. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  2. [4] . wikidata.org.
  3. [13] . wikidata.org.
  4. [17] . wikidata.org.
  5. [12] . wikidata.org.
  6. [24] . wikidata.org.
  7. [25] . Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  8. [15] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  9. [16] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  10. [6] . wikidata.org.
  11. [7] . wikidata.org.
  12. [8] . wikidata.org.
  13. [9] . wikidata.org.
  14. [10] . wikidata.org.
  15. [14] . wikidata.org.
  16. [18] . wikidata.org.
  17. [19] . wikidata.org.
  18. [20] . wikidata.org.
  19. [21] . wikidata.org.
  20. [22] . wikidata.org.
  21. [23] . Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  22. [26] . wikidata.org.
  23. [27] . wikidata.org.
  24. [66] . Search strategies and retrieval languages. wikidata.org.
  25. [74] . wikidata.org.
  26. [44] . wikidata.org.
  27. [3] . SNAC. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  28. [5] . SNAC. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  29. [67] . Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  30. [68] . Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  31. [73] . wikidata.org.

Inverse relationships (entities pointing at this one)

  1. [77] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [78] . wikidata.org. → on this site

Inline context (facts about related entities)

  1. [28] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [29] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [30] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
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  8. [45] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
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  30. [36] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  31. [37] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  32. [38] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  33. [39] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  34. [40] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  35. [41] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  36. [42] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  37. [43] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  38. [69] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
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  43. [80] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  44. [81] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  45. [82] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  46. [83] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site

Class ancestry

  1. [1] . Wikidata. wikidata.org.

Aggregate / graph-position facts

  1. [11] . Wikimedia Foundation. dumps.wikimedia.org.
  2. [75] . Wikidata sitelinks. wikidata.org.
  3. [76] . Wikidata aliases. wikidata.org.

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Rolling log of changes to this entity's Wikidata record. Values shown reflect the current state of each edited property — follow the history link to see the precise diff for any edit.

  1. 19d ago · Lesko987a · 2026-05-18 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Country of citizenship United States
    Position held professor
    Notable work proximity fuze, Center for UFO Studies, close encounter
    Archives at Northwestern University Archives
    + 35 other properties edited (see Wikidata diff for full list)
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/32177|batch #32177]]: P2949 Update Qualifiers"
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