Stephen J. Edberg
Encyclopedia
Stephen J. Edberg is a scientist
at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
. He is perhaps best known for creating collaborative efforts between amateur and professional astronomers. A professional astronomer
since 1970, Steve still considers himself to be an active amateur astronomer
as well.
Edberg is the Executive Director of one of the world's largest amateur astronomy events, RTMC Astronomy Expo
, held each May in Big Bear
, California. And Steve is currently the project scientist for the NASA/JPL "Space Interferometry Mission
" to search for Earth-like exo-solar planets. If launched, the new space telescope will be the most powerful planet-hunting space telescope ever. Starting his career in 1979, Steve Edberg is a veteran scientist at JPL and has worked on many important planetary space missions including the Galileo and Cassini missions to Jupiter
and Saturn
.
International Halley Watch
(IHW) was a collaborative program between observatories and amateur astronomers from over 40 countries that allowed nearly continuous observations and data collection of Comet 1P/Halley during its 1985-86 apparition. Edberg was responsible for getting the amateur community involved, creating a guide on how to make scientific observations and standardized forms for submitting data.
For his long commitment in bringing amateur and professional astronomers together, Minor planet
3672 Stevedberg
(1985 QQ) was named in honor of Stephen J. Edberg in 1987. The citation was prepared by David H. Levy
at the request of the discoverer Edward Bowell of Lowell Observatory
.
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center and NASA field center located in the San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles County, California, United States. The facility is headquartered in the city of Pasadena on the border of La Cañada Flintridge and Pasadena...
. He is perhaps best known for creating collaborative efforts between amateur and professional astronomers. A professional 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...
since 1970, Steve still considers himself to be an active amateur astronomer
Amateur astronomy
Amateur astronomy, also called backyard astronomy and stargazing, is a hobby whose participants enjoy watching the night sky , and the plethora of objects found in it, mainly with portable telescopes and binoculars...
as well.
Edberg is the Executive Director of one of the world's largest amateur astronomy events, RTMC Astronomy Expo
RTMC Astronomy Expo
The RTMC Astronomy Expo is one of the major gatherings of amateur astronomers in the United States.Founded by Clifford W. Holmes and the Riverside Astronomical Society, the RTMC Astronomy Expo began in 1969 as the Riverside Telescope Makers Conference at Riverside City College in Riverside,...
, held each May in Big Bear
Big Bear
Big Bear or Mistahi-maskwa was a Cree leader notable for his involvement in the North-West Rebellion and his subsequent imprisonment.-Early life and leadership:...
, California. And Steve is currently the project scientist for the NASA/JPL "Space Interferometry Mission
Space Interferometry Mission
The Space Interferometry Mission, or SIM, also known as SIM Lite , was a planned space telescope developed by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration , in conjunction with contractor Northrop Grumman...
" to search for Earth-like exo-solar planets. If launched, the new space telescope will be the most powerful planet-hunting space telescope ever. Starting his career in 1979, Steve Edberg is a veteran scientist at JPL and has worked on many important planetary space missions including the Galileo and Cassini missions to Jupiter
Jupiter
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest planet within the Solar System. It is a gas giant with mass one-thousandth that of the Sun but is two and a half times the mass of all the other planets in our Solar System combined. Jupiter is classified as a gas giant along with Saturn,...
and Saturn
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System, after Jupiter. Saturn is named after the Roman god Saturn, equated to the Greek Cronus , the Babylonian Ninurta and the Hindu Shani. Saturn's astronomical symbol represents the Roman god's sickle.Saturn,...
.
International Halley Watch
International Halley Watch
Halley's Comet, named after English astronomer Edmund Halley who first demonstrated its periodicity, returns to the vicinity of the Sun and Earth approximately every 76 years. Since comets are believed to be the most primordial objects in the solar system, their study is of great importance to...
(IHW) was a collaborative program between observatories and amateur astronomers from over 40 countries that allowed nearly continuous observations and data collection of Comet 1P/Halley during its 1985-86 apparition. Edberg was responsible for getting the amateur community involved, creating a guide on how to make scientific observations and standardized forms for submitting data.
For his long commitment in bringing amateur and professional astronomers together, Minor planet
Minor planet
An asteroid group or minor-planet group is a population of minor planets that have a share broadly similar orbits. Members are generally unrelated to each other, unlike in an asteroid family, which often results from the break-up of a single asteroid...
3672 Stevedberg
3672 Stevedberg
3672 Stevedberg is a main belt asteroid.Minor planet 3672 Stevedberg was named in honor of Stephen J. Edberg in 1987 for his long commitment in bringing amateur and professional astronomers together. The citation was prepared by David H. Levy at the request of the discoverer Edward Bowell of...
(1985 QQ) was named in honor of Stephen J. Edberg in 1987. The citation was prepared by David H. Levy
David H. Levy
David H. Levy is a Canadian astronomer and science writer most famous for his co-discovery in 1993 of Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9, which collided with the planet Jupiter in 1994.-Biography:...
at the request of the discoverer Edward Bowell of Lowell Observatory
Lowell Observatory
Lowell Observatory is an astronomical observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. Lowell Observatory was established in 1894, placing it among the oldest observatories in the United States, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965....
.