George O. Abell, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

George O. Abell

American astronomer

Date of Birth: 01-Mar-1927

Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, United States

Date of Death: 07-Oct-1983

Profession: astronomer, professor

Nationality: United States

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

George Ogden Abell (March 1, 1927 – October 7, 1983) taught at UCLA.
He worked as a research astronomer, administrator, as a popularizer of science and of education, and as a skeptic.
He earned his B.S.
in 1951, his M.S.
in 1952 and his Ph.D.
in 1957, all from the California Institute of Technology.
He was a Ph.D.
student under Donald Osterbrock.
His astronomical career began as a tour guide at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.
Abell made great contributions to astronomical knowledge which resulted from his work during and after the National Geographic Society - Palomar Observatory Sky Survey, especially concerning clusters of galaxies and planetary nebulae.
A galaxy, an asteroid, a periodic comet, and an observatory are all named in his honor.
His teaching career extended beyond the campus of UCLA to the high school student oriented Summer Science Program, and educational television.
He not only taught about science but also about what is not science.
He was an originating member of the Committee on Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal now known as the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.