Person

Greenhill, John Gilbert (1933 - 2014)

Born
18 April 1933
Died
28 September 2014
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Occupation
Astronomer

Summary

John Greenhill was a pioneer of x-ray astronomy in Australia and a determined hunter of planets via gravitational microlensing. He was heavily involved with University of Tasmania X-ray astronomy rocket program, a joint study with the University of Adelaide, the rocket being launched from Woomera. In the 1970s-1980s Greenhill led the balloon-borne X-ray program, designing and building a 1-m X-ray telescope which was successfully flown from Mildura, Alice Springs, and Brazil. He took over the operation of the University's optical telescope facility at Mt Canobus. The observatory joined the international PLANET consortium in searching for exoplanets using gravitational microlensing techniques. In retirement he was involved in planning a new observatory when it became clear Mt Canobus was compromised by encroaching city lights. Greenhill Observatory at Bisdee north of Hobart opened in February 2013.

Details

Chronology

1960
Education - BSc, University of Tasmania
1966
Education - PhD, University of Tasmania
2012
Award - Vice-Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Contribution by a Voluntary Position Holder, University of Tasmania

Published resources

Journal Articles

Resources

Helen Cohn

EOAS ID: biogs/P005726b.htm

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