Owen Gingerich, a renowned astronomer with a passion for the history of science, passed away on May 28 in Belmont, Mass. He was 93. As a Harvard professor, he taught astronomy and the history of science and was known for his energetic lectures and memorable classroom demonstrations, such as shooting himself out of the room on the power of a fire extinguisher to prove Newton’s laws. Gingerich’s pursuit of every original and second-edition copy of Nicolaus Copernicus’s revolutionary work, “De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium Libri Sex,” spanning over 30 years and hundreds of thousands of miles, led to his book “The Book Nobody Read: Chasing the Revolutions of Nicolaus Copernicus.” Gingerich was also at the center of a Plutonian controversy in 2006, when he led a committee recommending whether Pluto should remain a planet. Despite being dismayed by the decision to label Pluto a “dwarf planet,” his enthusiasm for the sciences, particularly astronomy, remained unwavering. Raised a Mennonite, Gingerich believed that religion and science need not be at odds and explored this theme in the books “God’s Universe” and “God’s Planet.” Gingerich is survived by his wife, Miriam Sensenig, three sons, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
