Dennis Walsh
Encyclopedia
Dennis Walsh was an English
astronomer
, born into a poor family in Manchester
. He was best known for his discovery in 1979 of the first example of a gravitational lens
which he made while studying quasars found in the Jodrell Bank
966MHz survey.
He developed an early aptitude for mathematics
and physics
, gaining a first class honours degree from the University of Manchester
at the age of 19. His doctorate was gained from the same university in 1957.
He married Pamela Lawton in 1957 by whom he had four sons. Dr. Walsh taught at the University of Michigan
from 1959 before returning to University of Manchester
in 1967.
Dr. Walsh was a long serving council member of the Royal Astronomical Society
and held the post of Treasurer for several years. He was also chair of the local organising committee for the International Astronomical Union
's meeting in Manchester in 2000.
In his last years Dr. Walsh suffered from Lewy body disease
. He died at home at the age of 71.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
, born into a poor family in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. He was best known for his discovery in 1979 of the first example of a gravitational lens
Gravitational lens
A gravitational lens refers to a distribution of matter between a distant source and an observer, that is capable of bending the light from the source, as it travels towards the observer...
which he made while studying quasars found in the Jodrell Bank
Jodrell Bank
The Jodrell Bank Observatory is a British observatory that hosts a number of radio telescopes, and is part of the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Manchester...
966MHz survey.
He developed an early aptitude for mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
and physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
, gaining a first class honours degree from the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
at the age of 19. His doctorate was gained from the same university in 1957.
He married Pamela Lawton in 1957 by whom he had four sons. Dr. Walsh taught at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
from 1959 before returning to University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
in 1967.
Dr. Walsh was a long serving council member of the Royal Astronomical Society
Royal Astronomical Society
The Royal Astronomical Society is a learned society that began as the Astronomical Society of London in 1820 to support astronomical research . It became the Royal Astronomical Society in 1831 on receiving its Royal Charter from William IV...
and held the post of Treasurer for several years. He was also chair of the local organising committee for the International Astronomical Union
International Astronomical Union
The International Astronomical Union IAU is a collection of professional astronomers, at the Ph.D. level and beyond, active in professional research and education in astronomy...
's meeting in Manchester in 2000.
In his last years Dr. Walsh suffered from Lewy body disease
Lewy body
Lewy bodies are abnormal aggregates of protein that develop inside nerve cells in Parkinson's disease , Lewy Body Dementia and some other disorders. They are identified under the microscope when histology is performed on the brain....
. He died at home at the age of 71.