William k hartmann biography of william

Summary Bibliography: William K. Hartmann

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American planetary scientist (born 1939)

William Kenneth Hartmann (born June 6, 1939) is an American planetary scientist, artist, author, and writer. He was the first to convince the scientific mainstream that the Earth had once been hit by a planet sized body (Theia), creating both the Moon and the Earth's 23.5° tilt.

Early life and education

Hartmann was born in Pennsylvania in 1939. He was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree (B.S.) in physics from Pennsylvania State University, and both a Master of Science degree (M.S.) in geology and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in astronomy from the University of Arizona.

Career

Hartmann's career spans over 40 years, from work in the early 1960s with Gerard Kuiper on Mare Orientale, and work on the Mariner 9 Mars mapping project, to work on the Mars Global Surveyor imaging team. He is currently a senior scientist at the Planetary Science Institute.

He has long been one of America's leading space artists (strongly influenced by Chesley Bonestell), and has written and illustrated numerous books on the history of Earth and the Solar System, often in collaboration with artist Ron Miller.

Hartmann is a Fellow of the International Association of Astronomical Artists. His written work also includes textbooks, short fiction, and novels, the most recent being published in 2003. In 1997 he was the first recipient of the Carl Sagan Medal for Excellence in Public Communication in Planetary Science from the American Astronomical Society, Division for Planetary Sciences.

Hartmann was a member of the 1966–1968 University of Colorado UFO Project (informally known as the Condon Committee), a controversial public study of UFOs sponsored by the U.S. Air Force. He primarily investigated photographic evidence, and rejected most as unreliable or inconclusive; in his studies published in the Committee's final report, he concluded two cases - Great

PERSONAL: Born June 6, 1939, in New Kensington, PA; son of Ernest C. (an engineer) and Erdys C. (Carmichael) Hartmann; married Gayle G. Harrison (an editor), March 22, 1970; children: Amy. Education: Pennsylvania State University, B.S., 1961; University of Arizona, M.S., 1965, Ph.D., 1966.

ADDRESSES: Home—2224 East 4th St., Tucson, AZ 85719. Office—Planetary Science Institute, 620 North 6th Ave., Tucson, AZ 85705-8331. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER: University of Arizona, Tucson, assistant professor of astronomy, 1966-70; IIT Research Institute, Tucson, AZ, research scientist, 1969-71, senior scientist, 1971-72; Science Applications International Corp., Tucson, senior scientist at Planetary Science Institute, 1972-95; Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, senior scientist at San Juan Research Institute, 1995—. University of Hawaii, visiting associate professor, 1975; member of affiliated faculty, University of Hawaii—Hilo, 1990, and University of Arizona, 1993. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, investigator for 1971 Mariner 9 Mars Mission, 1971-72, and Mars Observer Mission, 1991, member of imaging team for U.S. Mars Global Surveyor Mission, 1996, and investigator for Russian Mars 96 Mission; National Research Council, member of committee on planetary exploration, 1984-87; consultant to Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and House Select Committee on Assassinations. Painter of astronomical scenes, with work represented in books and exhibitions. Member of Tucson Advisory Committee on Air Pollution, 1970-71, and Pima County Air Pollution Advisory Committee, beginning 1975.

MEMBER: American Astronomical Society, American Association for the Advancement of Science (fellow), Society of Southwestern Authors.

AWARDS, HONORS: Nininger Meteorite Award, Arizona State University, 1965, for research on meteorites and the early history of the solar system; Carl Sagan Memorial Award, American Astronomica

Entry updated 12 September 2022. Tagged: Artist, Author.

(1939-    ) US astronomer, painter and author mostly of nonfiction like The Grand Tour: A Travelers Guide to the Solar System (1981; rev 1993; rev 2005) with Ron Miller, Out of the Cradle: Exploring the Frontiers Beyond Earth (graph 1984) with Pamela Lee and Ron Miller, and In the Stream of Stars: The Soviet/American Space Art Book (graph 1990) with Ron Miller, Vitaly Myagkov and Andrei Solokov.

Hartmann began publishing work of genre interest with "Handprints on the Moon" (in The Planets, anth 1985, ed Byron Preiss); in his sf novel, Mars Underground (1997), a Scientist on Mars disappears Underground, where he discovers signs of an ancient Martian civilization. The planet itself is soberly and realistically depicted. [JC/DRL]

William Kenneth Hartmann

born New Kennington, Pennsylvania: 6 June 1939

works (selected)

nonfiction

graphic works

graphic works as editor

links

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