David W. Hughes (7 November 1941 – 6 June 2022) was professor of

astronomy Astronomy () is a natural science that studies astronomical object, celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and chronology of the Universe, evolution. Objects of interest ...

at the

University of Sheffield , mottoeng = To discover the causes of things , established = – University of SheffieldPredecessor institutions: – Sheffield Medical School – Firth College – Sheffield Technical School – University College of Sheffield , type = Pu ...

, where he worked from 1965 to 2007.News and Reviews in Astronomy & Geophysics
Hughes published over 200 research papers on

asteroid An asteroid is a minor planet of the inner Solar System. Sizes and shapes of asteroids vary significantly, ranging from 1-meter rocks to a dwarf planet almost 1000 km in diameter; they are rocky, metallic or icy bodies with no atmosphere. ...

comet A comet is an icy, small Solar System body that, when passing close to the Sun, warms and begins to release gases, a process that is called outgassing. This produces a visible atmosphere or coma, and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena ar ...

meteorite A meteorite is a solid piece of debris from an object, such as a comet, asteroid, or meteoroid, that originates in outer space and survives its passage through the atmosphere to reach the surface of a planet or Natural satellite, moon. When the ...

s and meteoroids. He wrote on the history of astronomy, the origin of the

Solar System The Solar SystemCapitalization of the name varies. The International Astronomical Union, the authoritative body regarding astronomical nomenclature, specifies capitalizing the names of all individual astronomical objects but uses mixed "Solar S ...

and the impact threat to planet Earth.

Early life

Hughes was born in East Retford,

Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire (; abbreviated Notts.) is a landlocked county in the East Midlands region of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west. The traditi ...

, and educated at Mundella School (now Nottingham Emmanuel School), Birmingham University (1959–1962), where he gained a degree in physics, and

Oxford University Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...

(1962–1965, New College and the University Observatory), where he was awarded a

D.Phil. A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin: or ') is the most common degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields. Because it is ...

in solar astrophysics.

Professional career

Hughes became an assistant lecturer at Sheffield after leaving Oxford. Beyond his research, his teaching specialised in the history of astronomy, solar and planetary studies and geophysics. He was one of a small group of staff who established astronomy as a separate degree subject within Sheffield University's

Physics Physics is the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its motion and behavior through space and time, and the related entities of energy and force. "Physical science is that department of knowledge which r ...

department (now Physics and Astronomy). He progressed to a chair (professorship) and was given an

emeritus ''Emeritus'' (; female: ''emerita'') is an adjective used to designate a retired chair, professor, pastor, bishop, pope, director, president, prime minister, rabbi, emperor, or other person who has been "permitted to retain as an honorary title ...

chair on retirement.

Public outreach

Hughes often appeared on TV, most notably with the live coverage of the

ESA , owners = , headquarters = Paris, Île-de-France, France , coordinates = , spaceport = Guiana Space Centre , seal = File:ESA emblem seal.png , seal_size = 130px , image = Views in the Main Control Room (1205 ...

Giotto space mission to Halley's Comet. He also appeared on Christmas day TV, between the Queen's address and a Queen concert, discussing his interpretation of the biblical Christmas story. This was based on his book ''

The Star of Bethlehem The Star of Bethlehem, or Christmas Star, appears in the nativity story of the Gospel of Matthew chapter 2 where "wise men from the East" (Magi) are inspired by the star to travel to Jerusalem. There, they meet King Herod of Judea, and ask hi ...

: an astronomer's confirmation'', Walker, Pocket, Dent, Corgi, 1979. After retiring Hughes spent his life in Sheffield writing about astronomy and as a member of the

Royal Astronomical Society (Whatever shines should be observed) , predecessor = , successor = , formation = , founder = , extinction = , merger = , merged = , type = NGO ...

's Astronomy Heritage Committee. He enjoyed giving astronomy talks on cruise ships where, on many occasions, he represented the

Smithsonian Museum The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums and education and research centers, the largest such complex in the world, created by the U.S. government "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge". Founded ...

Washington DC ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

Personal life

Hughes enjoyed collecting livery buttons, Chinese ceramics and cast-iron railway signs. He is survived by his wife Carole Stott, who also writes on astronomy, and their two children, Ellen and Owen.

Awards and honours

The Mars-crossing asteroid

4205 David Hughes 4205 David Hughes, provisional designation , is a Mars-crossing asteroid from inside the innermost regions of the asteroid belt, approximately in diameter. It was discovered on 18 December 1985, by American astronomer Edward Bowell at Lowell's An ...

, discovered by

Edward Bowell Edward L. G. "Ted" Bowell (born 1943 in London), is an American astronomer. Bowell was educated at Emanuel School London, University College, London, and the University of Paris. He was principal investigator of the Lowell Observatory Near-Earth ...

in 1985, was named in his honour. The official naming citation was published by the

Minor Planet Center The Minor Planet Center (MPC) is the official body for observing and reporting on minor planets under the auspices of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Founded in 1947, it operates at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Function ...

on 2 November 1990 ().

Gallery

File:Cometary Physics 1989-2.jpg, Cometary Physics, taken at the time of the 1989 research bazaar at the

Hicks Building The Hicks Building is a building in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, part of the University of Sheffield. It is named in honour after William Mitchinson Hicks. It was completed in 1962 with an additional lower section joined by a ...

. File:1989 Cometary Physics Display.jpg, Cometary Physics, taken at the time of the 1989 research bazaar at the Hicks Building. File:Cometary Physics 1989.jpg, David Hughes explaining concepts to University students at the 1989 research bazaar, Hicks Building. File:David W. Hughes with final year BSc(Hons) Astronomy students..jpg, David W. Hughes explaining the images of the nucleus of P/Halley to final year BSc Combined Honours Physics and Astronomy students. Taken at the 1989 research bazaar, Hicks building. File:3. The famous door! b.jpg, Cometary Physics, D59. David W. Hughes' research students door. Taken at the time of the 1990 research bazaar at the Hicks Building. File:Neil McBride and & Peter Jalowiczor; David W. Hughes' research students..jpg, Neil McBrIde and Peter Jalowiczor; David W. Hughes' research students preparing for the 1990 research bazaar. File:Research group photo.jpg, Neil McBride and Peter Jalowiczor, research students of David W. Hughes. Taken at the research bazaar, Hicks Building, 1990. File:James Boswell and Neil Mc Bride, David W. Hughes' research students..jpg, James Boswell and Neil McBrIde; David W. Hughes' research students preparing for the 1991 research bazaar. File:Cometary Physics Display 1991.jpg, Cometary Physics taken at the time of the 1991 research bazaar at the Hicks Building. File:Research bazaar 1991.jpg, David W. Hughes presenting his work to students. Taken at the research bazaar, Hicks Building, 1991.

Bibliography

* "Understanding the Solar System"; Hughes, David W., , Library of Congress Number: 2005930854; First edition published in 2006 by Barron's Educational Series, Inc. Copyright 2006 Quintet Publishing Limited. 96 pages. Ilustrated.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hughes, David 1941 births 2022 deaths Academics of the University of Sheffield Alumni of New College, Oxford Alumni of the University of Birmingham 20th-century British astronomers