Eugene Rabe

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Eugene Karl Rabe
Born(1911-05-08)May 8, 1911
DiedJuly 1974
NationalityGerman
Known forStudy of Trojan asteroids, 433 Eros
Scientific career
FieldsAstronomy
InstitutionsAstronomisches Rechen-Institut, Cincinnati Observatory

Eugene Karl Rabe (May 8, 1911 – July 1974[1]) was a German-American astronomer.

He was born in Berlin, Germany, the son of Hermann and Luise.[2] From 1937–1948 he was a member of the staff at the Heidelberg, Germany branch of the Astronomisches Rechen-Institut. After World War II it was arranged for him to come to the United States.[3] He then became professor of astronomy at the University of Cincinnati, while working at the Cincinnati Observatory.[2] His work included orbital motions of the Trojan asteroids, and particularly the orbit of 433 Eros.[4] In 1951, he used twenty years worth of observations of Eros to determine the gravitational perturbations of the planets. From these, he calculated the most accurate masses to that date of Mercury, Venus, Mars and the Moon.[5][6]

The minor planet 1624 Rabe is named after him.[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "The astronomer who measured the distance to the sun and said the Pluto was not a planet".
  2. ^ a b Leaders in American science. Vol. 7. Who's Who in American Education. 1967. p. 485.
  3. ^ Osterbrock, Donald E.; Seidelmann, P. Kenneth (1987). "Paul Herget". Biographical Memoirs. Vol. 57. National Academy of Sciences. p. 64. doi:10.17226/1000. ISBN 978-0-309-03729-7. Retrieved 2010-05-22.
  4. ^ a b Schmadel, Lutz D. (2003). Dictionary of minor planet names. Physics and astronomy online library (5th ed.). Springer. p. 129. ISBN 3-540-00238-3.
  5. ^ Morrow, Martha G. (June 9, 1951). "Small Fry of the Solar System". The Science News-Letter. 59 (23): 362–364. doi:10.2307/3928808. JSTOR 3928808.
  6. ^ Rabe, Eugene (May 1950). "Derivation of fundamental astronomical constants from the observations of Eros during 1926-1945". Astronomical Journal. 55: 112. Bibcode:1950AJ.....55..112R. doi:10.1086/106364.

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