Bart Bok

Bart Bok (April 28, 1906 – August 5, 1983) was a Dutch-American astronomer, teacher, and lecturer. He is best known for his work on the structure and evolution of the Milky Way galaxy. Bok discovered small, densely dark clouds of interstellar gas and dust called Bok globules, which he thought might be forming new stars.

Bok married fellow astronomer Priscilla Fairfield in 1929, and they worked together closely for the rest of their lives. The Royal Astronomical Society said it was hard to tell their achievements apart. The Boks loved sharing their passion for astronomy with the public, and in 1936, The Boston Globe called them “salesmen of the Milky Way.”

Bok’s main interest was learning more about our galaxy. He once said he had been a happy astronomer for sixty years, exploring the beauty of the Milky Way. An asteroid named 1983 Bok was later named after him and his wife Priscilla, and he humorously thanked the International Astronomical Union for giving him “a little plot of land that I can retire to and live on.”

Early life and studies 1906–1929

Bart Bok was born in 1906 in a small town called Hoorn in the Netherlands. He grew up mostly with his grandparents in Haarlem, where he went to primary school. He loved math and science and went to high school in The Hague. During his school years, a Scoutmaster showed him the beautiful night sky on camping trips away from city lights.

After high school, Bart studied astronomy at universities in Leiden and Groningen. In 1928, he met Priscilla Fairfield at a big astronomy meeting in Leiden. They fell in love, and after a year of writing letters, they got married in 1929, just after Bart moved to the United States to work at the Harvard College Observatory.

Harvard 1929–1957

Bart and his wife stayed at Harvard University for almost thirty years, from 1929 until 1957. During this time, Bart taught astronomy and led the Harvard Observatory. He worked his way up through the ranks, becoming a full professor in 1947.

Along with his wife, Priscilla, Bart wrote many important papers about stars and the Milky Way. They also wrote a very popular book about our galaxy, called The Milky Way. In the 1940s, Bart discovered small, dark clouds of dust and gas in space. These clouds, later named Bok globules, might be places where new stars are born.

Australia 1957–1966

In 1957, Bart Bok and his wife moved to Australia. Bart became the Director at Mount Stromlo Observatory in Canberra, a part of the Australian National University. His work helped grow the study of stars and space in Australia and connect it with other types of space science.

Bart started using computers to study the stars, which was new at that time. He also made a television show about space that many people watched, helping more folks learn about astronomy. He worked hard to share his love for space with everyone, giving talks in schools and cities across Australia.

Return to the US 1966–1983

In 1966, Bart Bok and his wife moved back to the United States. Bart became the Head of the Department of Astronomy at the University of Arizona and Director of Steward Observatory until 1970. During this time, he helped build a large telescope at the Kitt Peak National Observatory and watched the astronomy program grow strongly.

Starting in 1970, Bok took on important roles in groups for astronomers around the world. He served as vice-president of the International Astronomical Union and as president of the American Astronomical Society. In 1975, he helped write a statement called Objections to Astrology, signed by many scientists, which was shared widely in the United States. He also helped start a group that promotes scientific thinking.

Bok continued to teach and travel to see solar eclipses, including trips to Siberia and Java. He remained active in astronomy until his death from a heart attack in Tucson, Arizona in 1983.

Honors

Bart Bok was very respected in the world of astronomy. He served as vice-president of the International Astronomical Union and president of the American Astronomical Society. He was also elected to the US National Academy of Sciences and was an honorary member of astronomy societies in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

He received many awards for his work, including the Jansky Prize from the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, the Catherine de Wolfe Bruce Medal, and the Henry Norris Russell Lectureship from the American Astronomical Society. Objects in space, like a lunar crater and an asteroid, are named after him, along with a special telescope in Arizona. There are also awards given in his honor to support young astronomers.

Selected publications

Bart Bok wrote many important papers about stars and space. Some of his well-known works include studies on how stars are arranged in the sky, ideas about how science can help bring peace, and ways to train students who want to study astronomy. He also worked with his wife, Priscilla Fairfield Bok, to write a book called The Milky Way about our galaxy. You can find more of his work in science libraries and online databases.