Lyman Spitzer

American astronomer (1914–1997)
Person human Q431503
Lyman Spitzer
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Lyman Spitzer was born on June 26, 1914, in Toledo [1][2]. He was the son of Lyman Strong Spitzer, Sr. [3] and later married Doreen Canaday Spitzer [1], with whom he had a child, Nicholas Spitzer [1]. Lyman Spitzer held citizenship in the United States and pursued a career as an astronomer, astrophysicist, physicist, and university teacher . He received his education from several institutions, including Princeton University, Yale College, Phillips Academy, and Scott High School [1]. Lyman Spitzer worked at various universities, including Princeton University from 1947 to 1997 [1], Yale University from 1939 to 1941 and again from 1946 to 1947 [1], and Harvard University from 1938 to 1939 [1]. His field of expertise was astrophysics . Lyman Spitzer held the position of chairperson from 1960 to 1962 [1]. He was a member of several prestigious organizations, including the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Phi Beta Kappa Society, American Philosophical Society, and American Astronomical Society [4]. Throughout his career, Lyman Spitzer received numerous awards, including the Prix Jules Janssen, Henry Draper Medal, Henry Norris Russell Lectureship, Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society, National Medal of Science, and Karl Schwarzschild Medal, as well as two more [1][5][6]. Lyman Spitzer passed away on March 31, 1997, in Princeton [1][7][2][8] and was buried at Princeton Cemetery [9].

Lyman Spitzer

Summary

Lyman Spitzer is a human[1]. He was born in Toledo[2]. He was born on June 26, 1914[3]. He passed away in Princeton[4]. He died on March 31, 1997[5]. He worked as an astronomer[6], astrophysicist[7], physicist[8], and university teacher[9]. He ranks in the top 0.72% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (166 views/month, #7,206 of 1,000,298).[10]

Key Facts

  • Born in Toledo[2], Lyman Spitzer…
  • Lyman Spitzer passed away in Princeton[4].
  • Lyman Spitzer was born on June 26, 1914[3].
  • Lyman Spitzer died on March 31, 1997[5].
  • Lyman Spitzer is buried at Princeton Cemetery[11].
  • Lyman Spitzer's father was Lyman Strong Spitzer, Sr.[12].
  • Among Lyman Spitzer's spouses was Doreen Canaday Spitzer[13].
  • A child of Lyman Spitzer was Nicholas Spitzer[14].
  • Lyman Spitzer held citizenship in United States[15].
  • Lyman Spitzer worked as an astronomer[6].
  • Lyman Spitzer worked as an astrophysicist[7].
  • Lyman Spitzer's professions included physicist[8].
  • Lyman Spitzer's professions included university teacher[9].
  • Lyman Spitzer's field of work was astrophysics[16].
  • Lyman Spitzer held the position of chairperson[17].
  • Lyman Spitzer was employed by Princeton University[18].
  • Among Lyman Spitzer's employers was Yale University[19].
  • Among Lyman Spitzer's employers was Harvard University[20].
  • Among Lyman Spitzer's employers was Yale University[21].
  • Lyman Spitzer was educated at Princeton University[22].
  • Lyman Spitzer's education included a stint at Yale College[23].
  • Lyman Spitzer was educated at Phillips Academy[24].
  • Lyman Spitzer was educated at Scott High School[25].
  • Lyman Spitzer's education included a stint at St John's College[26].
  • Lyman Spitzer's doctoral advisor was Henry Norris Russell[27].

Body

Origins and Family

Born in Toledo[2], Lyman Spitzer… he was born on June 26, 1914[3]. His father was Lyman Strong Spitzer, Sr.[12].

Education

Educated at Princeton University[22], a private university[28], in United States[29], founded in 1746[30], headquartered in Princeton[31]; Yale College[23], a college[32], in United States[33], founded in 1701[34]; Phillips Academy[24], a high school[35], in United States[36], founded in 1778[37]; Scott High School[25], a high school[38], in United States[39]; and St John's College[26], a college of the University of Cambridge[40], in United Kingdom[41], founded in 1511[42]. Lyman Spitzer's doctoral advisor was Henry Norris Russell[27].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include astronomer[6], astrophysicist[7], physicist[8], and university teacher[9]. Lyman Spitzer's field of work was astrophysics[16]. Employers include Princeton University[18], a private university[43], in United States[44], founded in 1746[45], headquartered in Princeton[46]; Yale University[19], a private university[47], in United States[48], founded in 1701[49], headquartered in New Haven[50]; and Harvard University[20], a private university[51], in United States[52], founded in 1636[53], headquartered in Cambridge[54]. He held the position of chairperson[17]. Doctoral students include Trinh Xuan Thuan[55], George B. Field[56], Bruce Elmegreen[57], David C. Montgomery[58], Robert Hugh Sanders[59], and J. Richard Gott[60].

Recognition

Awards received include Prix Jules Janssen[61], a science award[62], in France[63], founded in 1897[64]; Henry Draper Medal[65], a physics award[66], in United States[67], founded in 1886[68]; Henry Norris Russell Lectureship[69], a science award[70], in United States[71]; Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society[72], a science award[73], in United Kingdom[74], founded in 1824[75]; National Medal of Science[76], a science award[77], in United States[78], founded in 1963[79]; and Karl Schwarzschild Medal[80].

Personal Life

Lyman Spitzer was married to Doreen Canaday Spitzer[13]. A child of him was Nicholas Spitzer[14].

Death and Burial

Lyman Spitzer died on March 31, 1997[5]. He died in Princeton[4]. Burial took place at Princeton Cemetery[11].

Works and Contributions

Things named for Lyman Spitzer include Spitzer Space Telescope[81], a space telescope[82] and Lev D. Landau and Lyman Spitzer Jr. Award for Outstanding Contributions to Plasma Physics[83].

Why It Matters

Lyman Spitzer ranks in the top 0.72% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (166 views/month, #7,206 of 1,000,298).[10] He has Wikipedia articles in 21 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[84] He is known by 17 alternative names across languages and contexts.[85]

Entities named for him include Spitzer Space Telescope[81], a space telescope[82] and Lev D. Landau and Lyman Spitzer Jr. Award for Outstanding Contributions to Plasma Physics[83].

His notable doctoral advisees include J. Richard Gott[86], an astronomer[87], b. 1947[88], of United States[89], awarded the Robert J. Trumpler Award[90], specialised in astrophysics[91]; Trinh Xuan Thuan[92], an astrophysicist[93], b. 1948[94], of Vietnam[95], awarded the Prix mondial Cino Del Duca[96], specialised in extragalactic astronomy[97]; George B. Field[98], an astronomer[99], 1929–2024[100], of United States[101], awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship[102]; and Bruce Elmegreen[103], an astrophysicist[104], b. 1950[105], of United States[106], awarded the Dannie Heineman Prize for Astrophysics[107], specialised in astrophysics[108].

FAQs

Where was Lyman Spitzer born?

Born in Toledo[2], Lyman Spitzer…

Where did Lyman Spitzer die?

Lyman Spitzer died in Princeton[4].

Who were Lyman Spitzer's parents?

Lyman Spitzer's father was Lyman Strong Spitzer, Sr.[12].

Who was Lyman Spitzer married to?

Lyman Spitzer's spouses include Doreen Canaday Spitzer[13].

What did Lyman Spitzer do for work?

Lyman Spitzer worked as astronomer[6], astrophysicist[7], physicist[8], and university teacher[9].

Where did Lyman Spitzer go to school?

Lyman Spitzer was educated at Princeton University[22], Yale College[23], Phillips Academy[24], and Scott High School[25].

What awards did Lyman Spitzer receive?

Honors received include Prix Jules Janssen[61], Henry Draper Medal[65], Henry Norris Russell Lectureship[69], and Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society[72].

References

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

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Use these citations when quoting this entity in research, articles, AI prompts, or wherever provenance matters. We aggregate Wikidata + Wikipedia + authoritative open-data sources; the stitched, scored, cross-referenced view is what 4ort.xyz contributes.

APA 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph. (2026). Lyman Spitzer. Retrieved April 19, 2026, from https://4ort.xyz/entity/lyman-spitzer
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BibTeX @misc{4ortxyz_lyman-spitzer_2026, author = {{4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph}}, title = {{Lyman Spitzer}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://4ort.xyz/entity/lyman-spitzer}, note = {Accessed: 2026-04-19}}
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Edit History

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. 6d ago · Epìdosis · 2026-05-20 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Given name Lyman
    Field of work astrophysics
    Doctoral student Trinh Xuan Thuan, George B. Field, Bruce Elmegreen +8
    Instance of human
    + 30 other properties edited (see Wikidata diff for full list)
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/32086|batch #32086]]: import P21 and P106 from GND (28)"
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