Erik Holmberg (astronomer)

Erik Holmberg (13 November 1908 – 1 February 2000) was a Swedish astronomer and cosmologist. He is most famous for his work in the effects of interacting galaxies. This research showed that galaxies that came near each other would likely combine to form a larger galaxy.[1]

Erik Holmberg
Born(1908-11-13)13 November 1908
Sweden
Died1 February 2000(2000-02-01) (aged 91)
Gothenburg, Sweden
NationalitySwedish
Alma materLund University
Known forEffects of interacting galaxies
Scientific career
FieldsAstronomy, cosmology

Personal life

In 1908, Holmberg was born to Malcolm and Anna Holmberg in Skillingaryd, Sweden. In 1947 he married Martha Asdahl. They had one daughter named Osa, who was born in 1953.[2] He died on 1 February 2000 in Gothenburg, at the age of 91.

Scientific work

In 1941, Holmberg performed arguably the first N-body simulation on the dynamics of interacting galaxies[3]. In order to simulate the effect, he constructed an array of 37 lightbulbs. Using photocells, he measured the simulated force of gravity. Over time, the galaxies moved closer toward each other. He also concluded in a later experiment that elliptical galaxies are generally older than spiral galaxies, among other discoveries.[4]

gollark: (also how do you people get these 2G SAltkins aargh)
gollark: Collect dragons!
gollark: I mostly just stick my stuff in every hatchery known to man.
gollark: Can you not use a different *haaatch*ery?
gollark: Get it? Where?

References
  1. "Erik Holmberg (1908-2000)". www.astro.uu.se.
  2. "SpringerReference - Meteor". www.springerreference.com.
  3. Holmberg, Erik (1941). "On the Clustering Tendencies among the Nebulae. II. a Study of Encounters Between Laboratory Models of Stellar Systems by a New Integration Procedure". The Astrophysical Journal. 94 (3): 385–395. doi:10.1086/144344.
  4. Darling, David. "Holmberg, Erik Bertil (1908-2000)". www.daviddarling.info.


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