ASTRONOMERS & ASTROPHYSICISTS A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z                    HOME ABOUT CATEGORIES SITE MAP COPYRIGHT ADVERTISE CONTACT entire Web this site Chandrasekhar, Subrahmanyan (1910-1995) An Indian-born American astrophysicist renowned for his theoretical work on compact celestial objects, notably white dwarfs and neutron stars. He determined that the maximum mass of a white dwarf is about 1.4 solar masses, now known as the Chandrasekhar limit, and that above this mass the star must collapse further to become a neutron star or a black hole. Known for his love of mathematical beauty and precision, Chandrasekhar investigated and wrote important books on stellar structure and evolution, dynamical properties of star clusters and galaxies, radiative transfer of energy, hydrodynamic and hydromagnetic stability, the stability of ellipsoidal figures of equilibrium, and the mathematical theory of black holes. He edited the Astrophysical Journal for nearly 20 years and won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1983, the same year that he published The Mathematical Theory of Black Holes. His last book was Newton’s Principia for the Common Reader. Chandrasekhar received a B.A. at Madras University and a Ph.D. at Cambridge, and spent the rest of his career at the University of Chicago (1937-1995). The Chandra X-ray Observatory was named in his honor. Source: Bruce Medalists website. Related category    • ASTRONOMERS AND ASTROPHYSICISTS Also on this site: Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living Encyclopedia of History Transport Concepts & Designs (partner site) BACK TO TOP