Kenneth Franklin

American scientist, and educator and chief astronomer at Hayden Planetarium in New York City. Earning his Ph.D. in 1953, he was co-discoverer of radio emissions from Jupiter in 1955. He was the chief consultant on all things astronomical for the NY Times for many years. The renowned astronomer is credited with helping pinpoint the first noise known to have come from another planet and inventing a watch for use on the moon. For the Hayden Planetarium, he wrote and presented astronomical shows, including one that studied the night sky over Bethlehem around the presumed time of Jesus' birth. Readers of the Farmers' Almanac greatly benefited from his astronomical calculations and writings. He could often be found on a ship or a plane trying to chase and study comets. Known for his unfailing optimism, wit and gleefulness, he happily pointed at the 1962 doomsday predicted by Indian astrologers,"that the same alignment of stars had occurred twice in April 1821, but that doomsday was somehow forestalled." (Quote taken from his NY Times obituary). Above all, he took every opportunity to expound on his beloved science and to teach inquiring minds about the mathmatical beauty of the universe. He and his wife had three daughters. On June 17, 2007 the 84-year-old astronomer died of complications following heart surgery in Boulder, CO. His New York Times obituary placed the time of his death “when the sun rose in New York at 5:07 AM.” Link to Wikipedia biography