Fritz Zwicky · Asteria Star

Biography

Fritz Zwicky was a brilliant, combative astrophysicist at Caltech. In 1933 he measured the motions of galaxies in the Coma cluster and concluded that vast amounts of invisible 'dark matter' must be holding them together — a finding ignored for decades. With Walter Baade he coined the word 'supernova' and predicted that such explosions leave behind neutron stars.

Scientific contributions

Inferred unseen 'dark matter' in the Coma galaxy cluster (1933)
Coined the term 'supernova' and predicted neutron stars
Compiled major catalogues of galaxies and clusters

Major discoveries

Evidence for Dark Matter1933 CE

Observatories, instruments & objects

Worked at

Palomar Observatory

Knowledge connections

Sources & references

Facts on this topic will be cited from these primary and reference sources.

BritannicaEncyclopaedia Britannica
General reference for the history of astronomy, biographies, and cultural context.
NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.

Loading…