![]() ![]() from Cornell University in 1925 and an A.M. ![]() Throughout his career, he followed interests in medicine, physics and astronomy. summa cum laude in 1921 from Harvard concentrating in chemistry. Bernard’s School and the Browning School, New York City, and received an A.B. He was born December 17, 1897, in New York City, the son of Theodore Dunham and Josephine Balestier Dunham. Dunham’s interest in astronomy began early, and by the age of 17 he had built an observatory on the grounds of his family’s cottage in Northeast Harbor, where his father practiced medicine in the summers. Dunham’s principal research activities included development of Coude spectrographs at Mount Wilson Observatory and at Mount Stromlo Observatory in Australia, introduction of the Schmidt camera in spectroscopy, studies of stellar atmospheres and interstellar material, studies of planetary atmospheres, development of photoelectric detectors for spectroscopy, and application of physical methods for research in medicine and surgery.ĭr. This conclusion was dramatically confirmed 35 years later in measurements transmitted from U. Dunham demonstrated that if light were sent through a long pipe containing compressed carbon dioxide, the same spectrum could be reproduced on Earth, indicating that carbon dioxide, under higher pressure than the Earth’s atmosphere, had been observed in the atmosphere of Venus. Adams) found some unusual features in the spectrum of radiation from Venus. At that time, astronomers tended to believe that Earth and Venus had similar atmospheres, but Dr. Dunham discovered that the atmosphere of Venus is principally composed of carbon dioxide. In 1932, while on the staff of the Mount Wilson Observatory, Pasadena, California, Dr. was scientific director of the Fund for Astrophysical Research from its founding in 1936 until his death in 1984. No salaries, administrative costs, or overhead costs will be funded. The Fund does not make grants for equipment intended only for teaching, publication costs, or travel costs to attend meetings. Dunham by making annual grants for the acquisition of astronomical equipment, computer time, and computer hardware or software for use in research. The Trust continues to honor the legacy of the founders and Dr. to constitute a new fund known as the “Fund for Astrophysical Research”. On December 12, 2018, the assets of the Fund for Astrophysical Research, Incorporated were transferred to Community Funds, Inc. On November 17, 2018, the Attorney General of the State of New York approved the Plan of Dissolution and Distribution of Assets of the Fund for Astrophysical Research, Incorporated. ![]() Dunham’s death, the Fund for Astrophysical Research augmented its endowment by selling its scientific equipment and began a program of making small grants. Dunham designed a 0.3 meter telescope with an unconventional computer-driven alt-alt mounting that was installed in October 1985 on the campus of the University of Chicago. Plans were made for Project Canopus, an observatory to be established at the University of Tasmania. The Fund also studied the use of obsidian for mirrors under a contract with the U.S. served as its scientific director from its founding until his death in 1984.įor its first 50 years, the Fund was an operating foundation, purchasing and figuring mirrors, gratings and other equipment which it made available to astronomical projects at the Mount Wilson Observatory in California and the Mount Stromlo Observatory in Australia, with particular emphasis on spectroscopy. Thompson and Alice Bemis Thompson, the Fund for Astrophysical Research has supported astronomical and astrophysical projects in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand through loans and gifts of funds and optical equipment.
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