Riccardo Giacconi: A High-Energy Visionary Wins Nobel Prize

by WKT

Riccardo Giacconi Jpeg | Tiff

NASA's Uhuru

The Einstein X-ray Observatory

October 8, 2002 :: The Chandra team was thrilled by the news that Riccardo Giacconi will be a recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics for 2002 "for pioneering contributions to astrophysics, which have led to the discovery of cosmic X-ray sources."

Giacconi's vision, intellect, and ability to inspire others led directly to the Chandra X-ray Observatory and to the legions of X-ray astronomers who now explore the high-energy universe. Justly called "the father of X-ray astronomy," Giacconi and his team discovered the first cosmic X-ray source in 1962, then proposed, designed and directed NASA's Uhuru X-ray satellite which found the first evidence for a black hole. The Einstein X-ray Observatory, the first imaging X-ray telescope, was also a product of Giacconi's team.

Proposal to NASA

In 1976, Giacconi along with Harvey Tananbaum, now director of the Chandra X-ray Center, submitted a proposal letter to NASA that began the process that led to the development of the Chandra X-ray Observatory.




Further Resources:

• For an outline of the history of X-ray astronomy, including Giacconi's many contributions, see: http://chandra.harvard.edu/chronicle/0202/40years/index.html
  
  
• For a discussion of the history of X-ray telescopes, see: http://chandra.harvard.edu/xray_astro/history.html
  
  
• For a brief biography and photograph of Giacconi, see: http://chandra.harvard.edu/press/bios/giacconi_bio.html
  
  
• For a description of Giacconi's current research using Chandra, see: http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2001/cdfs/index.html
  http://chandra.harvard.edu/press/01_releases/press_031301.html
  
  
• Chandra Press Room: Nobel Prize In Physics Awarded To Astronomer For NASA-Funded Research
  
  
• Information on the 2002 Nobel prize can be found at: http://nobelprize.org/physics/laureates/2002/index.html
  
  
• Physics Today.org: http://www.physicstoday.org/vol-55/iss-10/nobel.html

High-Energy Celebration Members of the Chandra team at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory who had worked or trained with Riccardo Giacconi hold an impromptu gathering to celebrate the Nobel Prize announcement

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