Robert Grant Aitken (b.Dec 31 1864 Jackson, Calif. US— d.Oct 29 1951 Berkeley, Calif.) American astronomer who specialized in the study of double stars, of which he discovered more than 3,000.
From 1891 to 1895 Aitken was professor of mathematics and astronomy at the University of the Pacific, Stockton, Calif. In 1895 he joined the staff of Lick Observatory, Mt. Hamilton, Calif, as assistant astronomer, becoming associate director in 1923 and director in 1930; he retired in 1935. He published The Binary Stars (1918) and New General Catalogue of Double Stars Within 120° of the North Pole (1932).
A member of the expedition to Flint Island, from Lick in 1908, and lecturer at summer sessions of university, '08, '09, '13, '19.There are many other deserved honors, the crowning one of which 1926 the Bruce Gold Medal, received for 'distinguished services to astronomy'.
Robert Aitken, when asked for a resume of his work, sent the catalogue from which this data was obtained. In his letter to the editor, he says:'While in Jackson a year ago, I had the pleasure of seeing Mrs. Fontenrose, George Brown, George Gordon, Alphonse Ginocchio, and a few other old friends, but most of those whom I knew in boyhood were gone.'"
Aitken was partly deaf and used a hearing aid. He married Jessie Louisa Thomas 1865-1943 around 19 Jun 1888 in Oakland Alameda CA and had three sons and one daughter.
1 Wilhelmina Ellen 'Wylda' Aitken Apr 16 1889-May 07 1969 m1.07/11/1923 Richmond CA Charles H Loughrey 1887-Unknown m2. 06/17/1912 Mt Hamilton CA Reynold Kenneth Young 1886-1977
2 Robert Thomas Aitken b.Jun 13 1890 Livermore CA-Jun 22 1977 Placerville CA 51563258 m.Dec 24 1915 in San Francisco CA Gladys Page Baker b.Oct 04 1890 Esbon, Kansas; d. Placerville, California.
3 Malcolm Darroch Aitken b.Nov 17 1894 College Park, San Jose, Santa Clara, California d.Apr 29 1983 Pacific Grove, Monterey, California m.Dec 29 1923 Lansdowne, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA Margaret Elgar Powell b.May 22 1897 Lansdowne, Philadelphia Pennsylvania d.Feb 16 1977 Pacific Grove, Monterey, California.
4 Douglas Carryl Aitkin 1898- May 24 1992 m. Lena G Aitkin 1898-Feb 4 1990
His grandson, via Robert Thomas Robert Baker Aitken 158805289, was a widely known Zen Buddhist teacher and author. His granddaughter Marjorie J. Vold was a noted chemist specializing in colloids. Her parents Reynold and Wilhelmine Aitken Young
Complications from a recent fall were immediate cause of death. Robert Aitken's death certificate states his usual occupation as "Astronomer, Research". The informant is listed as Douglas C. Aitkin (sons Robert Thomas & Douglas Carryl Aitken) Hip fracture, senility, and cerebral hemmorage". He fell, possibly because of the cerebral hemmorage, was hospitalized and had hip fracture "nailed", then died.
Publications of the International Astronomical Society of the Pacific
1951 Hamilton M. Jeffers
Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Vol. 64, No. 376 (February 1952), pp. 4-10 - Robert's obituary in the Berkeley Gazette states "A member of the First Congregational Church of Berkeley, City Commons Club of Berkeley; Director Emeritus of Lick Observatory, Faculty Club of U.C."
Siblings:
Almira Aitken b.@ 1854 Sacramento, Sacramento, California USA d. in Infancy.
Chris'Tina' Louise Aitken 1855-1904 75280714
Minna Henrietta Aitken 1862-1863 107573473
Robert Grant Aitken 1864-1951 158805213
William Henry Aitken 1867-1945 72998181
Louis Sawers Aitken 1869-1906 158819198
John Walter Aitken 1873-1953 72997941
Aitken crater on the far side of the moon named in his honour. Aitken is a large lunar impact crater that lies on the far side of the Moon, named for Robert Grant Aitken, an American astronomer specializing in binary stellar systems. It is located to the southeast of the crater Heaviside, and north of the unusual formation Van de Graaff. Attached to the southwest rim is Vertregt.
Coordinates: 53°S 169°W
Diameter: About 2,500 km (1,600 mi)
Depth: About 13 km (8.1 mi)
Eponym: Lunar south pole Aitken (crater)
From 1891 to 1895 Aitken was professor of mathematics and astronomy at the University of the Pacific, Stockton, Calif. In 1895 he joined the staff of Lick Observatory, Mt. Hamilton, Calif, as assistant astronomer, becoming associate director in 1923 and director in 1930; he retired in 1935. He published The Binary Stars (1918) and New General Catalogue of Double Stars Within 120° of the North Pole (1932).
A member of the expedition to Flint Island, from Lick in 1908, and lecturer at summer sessions of university, '08, '09, '13, '19.There are many other deserved honors, the crowning one of which 1926 the Bruce Gold Medal, received for 'distinguished services to astronomy'.
Robert Aitken, when asked for a resume of his work, sent the catalogue from which this data was obtained. In his letter to the editor, he says:'While in Jackson a year ago, I had the pleasure of seeing Mrs. Fontenrose, George Brown, George Gordon, Alphonse Ginocchio, and a few other old friends, but most of those whom I knew in boyhood were gone.'"
Aitken was partly deaf and used a hearing aid. He married Jessie Louisa Thomas 1865-1943 around 19 Jun 1888 in Oakland Alameda CA and had three sons and one daughter.
1 Wilhelmina Ellen 'Wylda' Aitken Apr 16 1889-May 07 1969 m1.07/11/1923 Richmond CA Charles H Loughrey 1887-Unknown m2. 06/17/1912 Mt Hamilton CA Reynold Kenneth Young 1886-1977
2 Robert Thomas Aitken b.Jun 13 1890 Livermore CA-Jun 22 1977 Placerville CA 51563258 m.Dec 24 1915 in San Francisco CA Gladys Page Baker b.Oct 04 1890 Esbon, Kansas; d. Placerville, California.
3 Malcolm Darroch Aitken b.Nov 17 1894 College Park, San Jose, Santa Clara, California d.Apr 29 1983 Pacific Grove, Monterey, California m.Dec 29 1923 Lansdowne, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA Margaret Elgar Powell b.May 22 1897 Lansdowne, Philadelphia Pennsylvania d.Feb 16 1977 Pacific Grove, Monterey, California.
4 Douglas Carryl Aitkin 1898- May 24 1992 m. Lena G Aitkin 1898-Feb 4 1990
His grandson, via Robert Thomas Robert Baker Aitken 158805289, was a widely known Zen Buddhist teacher and author. His granddaughter Marjorie J. Vold was a noted chemist specializing in colloids. Her parents Reynold and Wilhelmine Aitken Young
Complications from a recent fall were immediate cause of death. Robert Aitken's death certificate states his usual occupation as "Astronomer, Research". The informant is listed as Douglas C. Aitkin (sons Robert Thomas & Douglas Carryl Aitken) Hip fracture, senility, and cerebral hemmorage". He fell, possibly because of the cerebral hemmorage, was hospitalized and had hip fracture "nailed", then died.
Publications of the International Astronomical Society of the Pacific
1951 Hamilton M. Jeffers
Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Vol. 64, No. 376 (February 1952), pp. 4-10 - Robert's obituary in the Berkeley Gazette states "A member of the First Congregational Church of Berkeley, City Commons Club of Berkeley; Director Emeritus of Lick Observatory, Faculty Club of U.C."
Siblings:
Almira Aitken b.@ 1854 Sacramento, Sacramento, California USA d. in Infancy.
Chris'Tina' Louise Aitken 1855-1904 75280714
Minna Henrietta Aitken 1862-1863 107573473
Robert Grant Aitken 1864-1951 158805213
William Henry Aitken 1867-1945 72998181
Louis Sawers Aitken 1869-1906 158819198
John Walter Aitken 1873-1953 72997941
Aitken crater on the far side of the moon named in his honour. Aitken is a large lunar impact crater that lies on the far side of the Moon, named for Robert Grant Aitken, an American astronomer specializing in binary stellar systems. It is located to the southeast of the crater Heaviside, and north of the unusual formation Van de Graaff. Attached to the southwest rim is Vertregt.
Coordinates: 53°S 169°W
Diameter: About 2,500 km (1,600 mi)
Depth: About 13 km (8.1 mi)
Eponym: Lunar south pole Aitken (crater)
Robert Grant Aitken (b.Dec 31 1864 Jackson, Calif. US— d.Oct 29 1951 Berkeley, Calif.) American astronomer who specialized in the study of double stars, of which he discovered more than 3,000.
From 1891 to 1895 Aitken was professor of mathematics and astronomy at the University of the Pacific, Stockton, Calif. In 1895 he joined the staff of Lick Observatory, Mt. Hamilton, Calif, as assistant astronomer, becoming associate director in 1923 and director in 1930; he retired in 1935. He published The Binary Stars (1918) and New General Catalogue of Double Stars Within 120° of the North Pole (1932).
A member of the expedition to Flint Island, from Lick in 1908, and lecturer at summer sessions of university, '08, '09, '13, '19.There are many other deserved honors, the crowning one of which 1926 the Bruce Gold Medal, received for 'distinguished services to astronomy'.
Robert Aitken, when asked for a resume of his work, sent the catalogue from which this data was obtained. In his letter to the editor, he says:'While in Jackson a year ago, I had the pleasure of seeing Mrs. Fontenrose, George Brown, George Gordon, Alphonse Ginocchio, and a few other old friends, but most of those whom I knew in boyhood were gone.'"
Aitken was partly deaf and used a hearing aid. He married Jessie Louisa Thomas 1865-1943 around 19 Jun 1888 in Oakland Alameda CA and had three sons and one daughter.
1 Wilhelmina Ellen 'Wylda' Aitken Apr 16 1889-May 07 1969 m1.07/11/1923 Richmond CA Charles H Loughrey 1887-Unknown m2. 06/17/1912 Mt Hamilton CA Reynold Kenneth Young 1886-1977
2 Robert Thomas Aitken b.Jun 13 1890 Livermore CA-Jun 22 1977 Placerville CA 51563258 m.Dec 24 1915 in San Francisco CA Gladys Page Baker b.Oct 04 1890 Esbon, Kansas; d. Placerville, California.
3 Malcolm Darroch Aitken b.Nov 17 1894 College Park, San Jose, Santa Clara, California d.Apr 29 1983 Pacific Grove, Monterey, California m.Dec 29 1923 Lansdowne, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA Margaret Elgar Powell b.May 22 1897 Lansdowne, Philadelphia Pennsylvania d.Feb 16 1977 Pacific Grove, Monterey, California.
4 Douglas Carryl Aitkin 1898- May 24 1992 m. Lena G Aitkin 1898-Feb 4 1990
His grandson, via Robert Thomas Robert Baker Aitken 158805289, was a widely known Zen Buddhist teacher and author. His granddaughter Marjorie J. Vold was a noted chemist specializing in colloids. Her parents Reynold and Wilhelmine Aitken Young
Complications from a recent fall were immediate cause of death. Robert Aitken's death certificate states his usual occupation as "Astronomer, Research". The informant is listed as Douglas C. Aitkin (sons Robert Thomas & Douglas Carryl Aitken) Hip fracture, senility, and cerebral hemmorage". He fell, possibly because of the cerebral hemmorage, was hospitalized and had hip fracture "nailed", then died.
Publications of the International Astronomical Society of the Pacific
1951 Hamilton M. Jeffers
Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Vol. 64, No. 376 (February 1952), pp. 4-10 - Robert's obituary in the Berkeley Gazette states "A member of the First Congregational Church of Berkeley, City Commons Club of Berkeley; Director Emeritus of Lick Observatory, Faculty Club of U.C."
Siblings:
Almira Aitken b.@ 1854 Sacramento, Sacramento, California USA d. in Infancy.
Chris'Tina' Louise Aitken 1855-1904 75280714
Minna Henrietta Aitken 1862-1863 107573473
Robert Grant Aitken 1864-1951 158805213
William Henry Aitken 1867-1945 72998181
Louis Sawers Aitken 1869-1906 158819198
John Walter Aitken 1873-1953 72997941
Aitken crater on the far side of the moon named in his honour. Aitken is a large lunar impact crater that lies on the far side of the Moon, named for Robert Grant Aitken, an American astronomer specializing in binary stellar systems. It is located to the southeast of the crater Heaviside, and north of the unusual formation Van de Graaff. Attached to the southwest rim is Vertregt.
Coordinates: 53°S 169°W
Diameter: About 2,500 km (1,600 mi)
Depth: About 13 km (8.1 mi)
Eponym: Lunar south pole Aitken (crater)
From 1891 to 1895 Aitken was professor of mathematics and astronomy at the University of the Pacific, Stockton, Calif. In 1895 he joined the staff of Lick Observatory, Mt. Hamilton, Calif, as assistant astronomer, becoming associate director in 1923 and director in 1930; he retired in 1935. He published The Binary Stars (1918) and New General Catalogue of Double Stars Within 120° of the North Pole (1932).
A member of the expedition to Flint Island, from Lick in 1908, and lecturer at summer sessions of university, '08, '09, '13, '19.There are many other deserved honors, the crowning one of which 1926 the Bruce Gold Medal, received for 'distinguished services to astronomy'.
Robert Aitken, when asked for a resume of his work, sent the catalogue from which this data was obtained. In his letter to the editor, he says:'While in Jackson a year ago, I had the pleasure of seeing Mrs. Fontenrose, George Brown, George Gordon, Alphonse Ginocchio, and a few other old friends, but most of those whom I knew in boyhood were gone.'"
Aitken was partly deaf and used a hearing aid. He married Jessie Louisa Thomas 1865-1943 around 19 Jun 1888 in Oakland Alameda CA and had three sons and one daughter.
1 Wilhelmina Ellen 'Wylda' Aitken Apr 16 1889-May 07 1969 m1.07/11/1923 Richmond CA Charles H Loughrey 1887-Unknown m2. 06/17/1912 Mt Hamilton CA Reynold Kenneth Young 1886-1977
2 Robert Thomas Aitken b.Jun 13 1890 Livermore CA-Jun 22 1977 Placerville CA 51563258 m.Dec 24 1915 in San Francisco CA Gladys Page Baker b.Oct 04 1890 Esbon, Kansas; d. Placerville, California.
3 Malcolm Darroch Aitken b.Nov 17 1894 College Park, San Jose, Santa Clara, California d.Apr 29 1983 Pacific Grove, Monterey, California m.Dec 29 1923 Lansdowne, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA Margaret Elgar Powell b.May 22 1897 Lansdowne, Philadelphia Pennsylvania d.Feb 16 1977 Pacific Grove, Monterey, California.
4 Douglas Carryl Aitkin 1898- May 24 1992 m. Lena G Aitkin 1898-Feb 4 1990
His grandson, via Robert Thomas Robert Baker Aitken 158805289, was a widely known Zen Buddhist teacher and author. His granddaughter Marjorie J. Vold was a noted chemist specializing in colloids. Her parents Reynold and Wilhelmine Aitken Young
Complications from a recent fall were immediate cause of death. Robert Aitken's death certificate states his usual occupation as "Astronomer, Research". The informant is listed as Douglas C. Aitkin (sons Robert Thomas & Douglas Carryl Aitken) Hip fracture, senility, and cerebral hemmorage". He fell, possibly because of the cerebral hemmorage, was hospitalized and had hip fracture "nailed", then died.
Publications of the International Astronomical Society of the Pacific
1951 Hamilton M. Jeffers
Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Vol. 64, No. 376 (February 1952), pp. 4-10 - Robert's obituary in the Berkeley Gazette states "A member of the First Congregational Church of Berkeley, City Commons Club of Berkeley; Director Emeritus of Lick Observatory, Faculty Club of U.C."
Siblings:
Almira Aitken b.@ 1854 Sacramento, Sacramento, California USA d. in Infancy.
Chris'Tina' Louise Aitken 1855-1904 75280714
Minna Henrietta Aitken 1862-1863 107573473
Robert Grant Aitken 1864-1951 158805213
William Henry Aitken 1867-1945 72998181
Louis Sawers Aitken 1869-1906 158819198
John Walter Aitken 1873-1953 72997941
Aitken crater on the far side of the moon named in his honour. Aitken is a large lunar impact crater that lies on the far side of the Moon, named for Robert Grant Aitken, an American astronomer specializing in binary stellar systems. It is located to the southeast of the crater Heaviside, and north of the unusual formation Van de Graaff. Attached to the southwest rim is Vertregt.
Coordinates: 53°S 169°W
Diameter: About 2,500 km (1,600 mi)
Depth: About 13 km (8.1 mi)
Eponym: Lunar south pole Aitken (crater)
Gravesite Details
Aitken Family Plot on homestead
Family Members
Siblings
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