Discovered quasars, incredibly luminous objects thought to be powered by supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies.
Maarten Schmidt is renowned for being the first astronomer to measure the distances of quasars, revolutionizing our understanding of the universe. His groundbreaking discovery in 1963 revealed that quasars are incredibly luminous objects located at vast distances from Earth, challenging the prevailing understanding of celestial bodies.
Schmidt was born on December 28, 1929, in Groningen, the Netherlands, to Wilhelm and Annie Wilhelmina Haringhuizen Schmidt. His father worked as an accountant for the Dutch government, while his mother was a homemaker. Schmidt's interest in mathematics and physics led him to pursue higher education at the University of Groningen, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1949 and master's degree in 1950. He then moved to Leiden University to pursue his doctoral studies under the guidance of renowned astronomer Jan Oort, earning his Ph.D. in 1956.
After completing his doctorate, Schmidt spent two years in the United States on a Carnegie Fellowship, during which he worked on theories related to mass distribution and galaxy dynamics. He developed the "Schmidt law," which establishes a correlation between the density of interstellar gas and the rate of star formation. This fundamental concept has had a lasting impact on our understanding of galaxy evolution.
In 1959, Schmidt emigrated to the United States to join the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), where he began studying the light spectra of radio sources. His work led to the identification of the first quasar, 3C 273, in 1963. By analyzing its spectrum, Schmidt determined that 3C 273 had a high redshift of 0.158, indicating that it was an extremely luminous object located at a vast distance from Earth.
Schmidt's discovery of quasars opened up new avenues of research in astronomy, challenging existing theories about the universe's structure and evolution. His work revealed that quasars are powered by supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies, which has far-reaching implications for our understanding of cosmic evolution.
Today, Schmidt is credited with the discovery of thousands of quasars, and his work has paved the way for further research into these enigmatic objects. His contributions have been recognized through various awards and honors, including being featured on the cover of Time magazine in 1966.
Schmidt's pioneering work on quasars has had a profound impact on modern astronomy, driving the development of new research areas, such as galaxy evolution, black hole studies, and cosmology. His discovery has also inspired new generations of astronomers, pushing the boundaries of human understanding of the universe.
Maarten Schmidt's legacy serves as a testament to human curiosity and the power of scientific inquiry, illuminating the mysteries of the cosmos and inspiring future explorers to continue unraveling the secrets of the universe.
Born in 1889
Discovered galaxies beyond our own Milky Way, revolutionizing our understanding of the universe's scale and expansion. Pioneered observational cosmology, providing evidence for the Big Bang theory.
Born in 1885
Measured the galaxy's size and mapped the Milky Way's structure, revolutionizing our understanding of the universe.
91 Years Old
A renowned space expert who explored the universe, searching for life beyond Earth and explaining complex science in simple terms.
99 Years Old
Pioneering astronomer and cosmologist who determined the first reasonably accurate values for the Hubble constant and the age of the universe. His work laid the foundation for modern cosmology.
99 Years Old
Pioneering astronomer and cosmologist who determined the first reasonably accurate values for the Hubble constant and the age of the universe. His work laid the foundation for modern cosmology.
