Wikipedia

Arlo U. Landolt

Arlo Udell Landolt (September 29, 1935 – January 21, 2022) was an American astronomer known for his widely used photometric standards.[1][2]

Arlo U. Landolt
Landolt standing next to the Kitt Peak National Observatory's 16-inch telescope circa 1960
Landolt with the Kitt Peak National Observatory's 16-inch telescope c. 1960
Born
Arlo Udell Landolt

(1935-09-29)September 29, 1935
Highland, Illinois, U.S.
DiedJanuary 21, 2022(2022-01-21) (aged 86)
Alma mater
Spouse
Eunice J. Casper
​
(m. 1966)​
AwardsGeorge van Biesbroeck Prize (1995)
Scientific career
Fields
InstitutionsLouisiana State University
ThesisA Photometric Investigation of the Galactic Clusters NGC 6087 and M25 (1963)
Doctoral advisorJohn B. Irwin

Life and career

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Early life

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Landolt was born in Highland, Illinois to farmers Arlo M. Landolt and Vesta Kraus Landolt [3] on September 29, 1935. He was the oldest of 4 (one brother, 2 sisters) Darnell M., Faye Beth, Sheryl Sue. He attended a one-room country grade school called IXL Country Grade School. He graduated grade school in 7 of 8 years because they accelerated his education.[3] All of Landolt's relatives, like his parents, were farmers.[3] After finishing grade school, he was the first of his family to go the high school.[3] While in high school he took all the classes for agriculture. It was not until later on that Landolt showed interest in mathematics, physics, and the sciences.[3] He was involved in 4H clubs and projects.[3] He would base his projects on the hogs on their farm but would try to use the purebred over the crossed and mixed breeds that his father would raise.[3] He would sell the hogs to get a Funk and Wagnall’s Encyclopedia set.[3] He graduated from Highland High School in 1952.

Education

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After graduating, he wanted to attend M.I.T, but his family could not afford it.[3] He instead attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio for his undergraduate studies. He planned to transfer to M.I.T after his 3rd year in a program offered by the university, but decided to complete his schooling there.[3] In order to attend the university he had a job as a busboy and washing dishes in the dorms as well as some help from his parents for tuition.[3] Early on, he took a course on astronomy which he credits to be the start of his interest in that science.[3] He wanted to push through college so he attended for 3 years and 2 summers. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and physics from Miami University in 1955. He began his graduate studies at age 19[3] at Indiana University in 1955. He attended for almost 7 years, 5 years being on campus and nearly 2 years being in the Antarctic after signing up for an expedition with the International Geophysical Year. The expedition was offered through the Arctic Institute of North America.[3] He was stationed at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station[3] with a group led by Paul Siple and it consisted of 9 other scientists, 9 Navy Sea-Bees, and a husky dog.[4] He was hired as an aurora and air glow scientist[3] along with the others hired to go on the expedition. He came back from the expedition during Christmas time in 1957.[3] He received his Ph.D. in 1962 from Indiana University.[5] Although he finished all requirements for his degree in 1962, he had not received his degree until June 1963 and that is what is officially on the degree.[3]

Research career

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Landolt in 2014 with an award from Kitt Peak National Observatory

After graduating, Landolt served on committees with many organizations and was eventually elected Secretary of the American Astronomical Society.[4] This occurred for 3 terms.[4] He spent one year working for the National Science Foundation in Washington, D.C.[4]

In his later years, he became reacquainted with a high school classmate, Eunice Casper.[4] They got married and he helped raise her 4 daughters ages 6, 7, 8, and 10. They later had a daughter of their own named Jennifer Landolt Boutte.[4]

He worked principally in photometry and published a number of widely used lists[6][7][8] of standard stars.[5][9]

Landolt died on January 21, 2022, at the age of 86.[10]

Honors and awards

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Mount Landolt in Ellsworth Land, Antarctica is named in his honor, as well as the Landolt Astronomical Observatory at Louisiana State University and the asteroid 15072 Landolt.[2][9]

References

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  1. ^ R.R. Bowker Company. Database Publishing Group (2009). American Men & Women of Science. Vol. 4. Bowker. ISBN 9781414433042. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Clayton, Geoffrey; Frank, Juhan (2022-01-01). "Arlo U. Landolt (1935–2022)". Bulletin of the AAS. 54 (1). American Astronomical Society. doi:10.3847/25c2cfeb.967352fd. ISSN 0002-7537.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Interview of Arlo Landolt by David DeVorkin on 1996 October 31, Niels Bohr Library & Archives, American Institute of Physics, College Park, MD USA, www.aip.org/history-programs/niels-bohr-library/oral-histories/5922
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Arlo U. Landolt Obituary (1935 - 2022) The Advocate". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2022-08-10.
  5. ^ a b Arlo U. Landolt, web page at Louisiana State University. Accessed on line September 19, 2007.
  6. ^ UBVRI photometric standard stars around the celestial equator, Arlo U. Landolt, Astronomical Journal, 88, #3 (March 1983), pp. 439–460.
  7. ^ UBV photoelectric sequences in the celestial equatorial selected areas 92–115, Arlo U. Landolt, Astronomical Journal, 78, #9 (November 1973), pp. 959–981.
  8. ^ UBVRI photometric standard stars in the magnitude range 11.5<V<16.0 around the celestial equator, Arlo U. Landolt, Astronomical Journal 104, #1 (July 1992), pp. 340–371, 436–491.
  9. ^ a b 15072 Landolt (1999 BS12), web page from the JPL Small-Body Database Browser. Accessed on line September 19, 2007.
  10. ^ "Arlo U. Landolt". Legacy. 23 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  11. ^ George Van Biesbroeck Prize, AAS website.
  12. ^ "Arlo U. Landolt named 2015 Leslie C. Peltier Award Recipient". Retrieved January 29, 2022.
  13. ^ "AAS Fellows". AAS. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  14. ^ "The William Tyler Olcott Distinguished Service Award". American Association of Variable Star Observers. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
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Archival collections

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