Person Burbidge; Eleanor Margaret (1919 - 2020); astronomer Burbidge Eleanor Margaret astronomer née Peachey 1919 - 2020 British American Female Davenport, Stockport, Stockport, Greater Manchester, England, United Kingdom 12/08/1919 19190812 San Francisco, California, United States 05/04/2020 20200405

Platts Lane, near Hampstead Heath, London (1921)

Astronomer Astrophysics Observational Astronomy Astronomy Education: Heysham School, Hampstead, London; Francis Holland Church of England School, Regent’s Park, London; University College, London (undergraduate 1936); PhD (1943) Career: Assistant director at University of London Observatory (1948–50); acting director (1950–51); worked at University of Chicago's Yerkes Observatory, Wisconsin (1951-1953); tenured professor at the University of California at San Diego (1962); took significant action against the gender discrimination in astronomy she was subjected to over the years (1971); involved in a serious car crash which resulted in a cracked hip (20 October 1973); director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory (1973–1975); became an American citizen (1977); first director of the Center for Astronomy and Space Sciences at University of California, San Diego, USA (1979-1988); died from a fall. Medals/Awards: Helen B. Warner Prize for Astronomy 1959, awarded jointly with Geoffrey Burbidge Catherine Wolfe Bruce medal of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific 1982 Henry Norris Russell Lectureship 1984 Albert Einstein World Award of Science 1988 Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society 2005 Memberships: American Academy of Arts and Sciences 1969 American Astronomical Society (President 1976-1978) National Academy of Sciences 1978 American Philosophical Society 1980 Parents: Stanley John Peachey (1877–1936), chemistry lecturer at Manchester School of Technology and Marjorie, née Stott (1892–1979), Stanley's former chemistry student. Siblings: Audrey and Evelyn (half sister from father's previous marriage Hebe Magdalene, née Hines (1882–1907)). Spouse: Geoffrey Ronald Burbidge (FRS 1968) Children: Sarah Burbdge (b 1956) Made distinguished contribtions, in collaboration with her husband, to both observations and theoretical development of the theory of origin of the chemical elements (stellar nucleosynthesis). Their famous and comprehensive B2FH paper of 1957 described the numerous nuclear processes that led to the synthesis of the heavy elements in stars, with element abundance values supported by decisive observational evidence. Her work had profound cosmological implications, particularly in the evidence it provided of the formation of new galaxies. worked on galaxy rotation curves and quasars, discovering the most distant astronomical object then known. Heavily involved in detailed planning of the Faint Object Camera, an instrument for the Hubble Space Telescope launched in 1990. Outspoken on discrimination faced by women in science, describing her experience as ‘find[ing] a way around’ the misogynistic barriers in a culture dominated by males (‘Watcher of the Skies’, 8). Fellow 19/03/1964 44 Thomas George Cowling Fred Hoyle Martin Ryle Robert Hanbury Brown References: Sir Bernard Lovell, 'The Royal Society, the Royal Greenwich Observatory and the Astronomer Royal' in NR 1994 vol 48 pp 283-297 DNB Anneila I. Sargent and Malcolm S. Longair, Biographical Memoirs of the Royal Society, Eleanor Margaret Burbidge. 12 August 1919-5 April 2020, 25 August 2021 Burbidge E M, IM GA WRS 9274.jpg International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa 1996 ISBN 0-9696035-3-3 National Council on Archives, Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbm.2021.0017 RCN 58624 RCN 16871 https://pictures.royalsociety.org/results?mi_search_type=adv&mi_adv_search=yes&adv_person_id=AUTH1340 12 Aug 1919 - The past Fellows entries are under continuous revision. If you have queries or additional information to contribute, please contact Library@royalsociety.org. Content in external sources is not controlled by the Royal Society and historical sources may include content that is now unacceptable. Reviewed on 08/01/2025 as part of the Name Authority Project update. NA7119 21/11/2001 Andyg pmab 08/09/2025 RS_NET\VirginiaM Yes 7742e945-0784-409d-9200-bd352bfecb81