BOZEMAN, MT--A former astronaut who founded the solar physics group at Montana State University-Bozeman has received the George Ellery Hale Prize, a major award in the field of solar physics.
"Loren Acton's receipt of the Hale Prize is a major distinction for MSU," said John Hermanson, head of MSU's physics department. "The award recognizes the very highest performers in solar physics."
Acton received his prize on June 8 at the 196th meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS). But he'll also lecture at the June 18-22 meeting of the Solar Physics Division of the AAS. His topic will be "Shapes, Colors and Motions on the Sun."
The Hale Prize is generally given every two years by the Solar Physics Division of the AAS. The award goes to a scientist who has made outstanding contributions to solar astronomy.
"I've never felt that it is entirely appropriate to award prizes to scientists," admitted Acton,who graduated from MSU in 1959 in engineering physics. He has a doctorate in astro-geophysics from the University of Colorado-Boulder, which also awarded him an honorary doctor of science degree this spring.
"One is tremendously fortunate to do this stimulating work and to get paid for doing it out of the public purse," Acton continued. "Adding prizes to this remarkable state of events seems a little unseemly to me. However ... this prize (Hale) is a substantial and positive demonstration that my colleagues feel that I've not done so badly, and this is extremely pleasing to me."
Ernest Hildner, chairman of the committee that selected Acton, said the Hale Prize is given to someone who does "superb science." But since all the nominees meet that qualification, the committee looks at other contributions, too.
In Acton's case, "Loren is the only flown solar physicist I have known," Hildner said, referring to Acton's flight on the SPACELAB 2 mission in 1985. Acton stood out, too, because he started a vigorous solar physics program at a university, which is "pretty rare." Acton has also been "enormously supportive and encouraging" of all kinds of solar physics ventures. His leadership in placing a Soft X-Ray Telescope on the Yohkoh satellite and his ongoing involvement with that project helped send him to the top, too.
"My scientific research has long been propelled by overriding curiosities about 'What does it look like? What is its spectrum? How does it move and change?'" Acton said. "Fortunately for the solar astronomer, it is increasingly possible to satisfy such curiosities in exquisite detail."
Acton was nominated for the Hale Prize by Richard Canfield, a research professor and another leading solar physicist at MSU. In a three-page letter outlining Acton's achievements, Canfield said Acton has an outstanding record for research and developing solar instruments. But his work with people and institutions is equally important and enduring.
A native of Montana, Acton worked at the Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. from 1964 to 1993, building instrumentation and analyzing solar and cosmic X-ray information. He was a leader on several projects that built instruments for rocket and space missions. He flew on the SPACELAB 2 Mission in 1985 and returned to MSU in 1993. Acton retired from MSU in March last year, but returned to work one-third time as a research professor of physics.
By Evelyn Boswell
Montana State University Research Office
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