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
Observatories, instruments & objects
Knowledge connections
- Part ofModern Astronomy
- Worked atPalomar Observatory
- DiscoveredEvidence for Dark Matter
- StudiesDark Matter
- StudiesGalaxy Cluster
Sources & references
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- 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.