Donald W. Olson
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Astrophysicist, forensic astronomer
Academic background
EducationB.S. in physics, Michigan State University
PhD in physics, University of California-Berkeley
Academic work
InstitutionsTexas State University

Donald W. Olson is an astrophysicist and forensic astronomer at the Texas State University. Nicknamed the "Celestial Sleuth," he is known for studying art and history using astronomical data.[1] He is currently regents professor emeritus at Texas State's Department of Physics.[2]

Education

Olson received a B.S. in physics from Michigan State University. Upon graduating, he was awarded the Thomas H. Osgood Undergraduate Physics Award. He later studied at University of California-Berkeley, where he received his PhD. Olson went on to study at Cornell University and University of Texas at Austin, before taking up a teaching position at Texas State University in 1981.[3]

Career

Olson began his career studying the theory of relativity and creating computer simulations of astronomical phenomena such as the distribution of galaxies or radiation near black holes.[4] He became well known for his work in the field of forensic astronomy, often in collaboration with fellow astrophysicist Russell Doescher. Their work has also studied how astronomy has impacted events such as battles and historical decisions.[5]

In 2004, he and Doescher suggested that the traditionally accepted date for the Battle of Marathon was incorrect, taking place on August 12, rather than the traditionally accepted date of September 12.[6][7] In 2008, he and Doescher published a paper claiming to have found the precise date and location of Julius Caesar's landing in Britain.[8] Olson's team also attempted to recreate the timeline of Mary Shelley's inspiration to write Frankenstein, which the author claimed occurred during a moonlit night but which historians had traditionally dismissed. Based on the team's findings, Shelley likely did experience a moonlit night on June 16, 1816, the date on which she conceived of Frankenstein.[9]

Olson received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2011.[3] In 2012, Olson led a team of researchers who studied whether the sinking of the Titanic may have been caused by a lunar event.[10] At the time of the sinking on January 4, 1912, the moon was simultaneously at perigee and in line with the Sun, producing a rare spring tide that may have pushed ice bergs into the path of the ship. This was the closest approach to Earth made by the moon in 1,440 years.[11]

Olson was awarded the 2014 Klopsteg Memorial Lecture Award by the American Association of Physics Teachers.[3]

He has authored papers on historically significant astronomical events such as the 1913 Great Meteor Procession.[12] He has also studied the astronomical conditions which inspired unusual paintings and photographs by artists such as Johannes Vermeer, Edvard Munch,[12] Claude Monet,[13] and Ansel Adams,[14] as well as exactly when they would have been created.[15] Other research has studied descriptions of astronomical phenomena in literary works like The Canterbury Tales or Childe Harold's Pilgrimage.[16]

He wrote the book Celestial Sleuth, which was published by Springer in 2014. The book explores the historical significance of astronomical phenomena in world history, as well as analyzing historical descriptions of astronomical events.[17]

He has criticized some archaeoastronomical theories, such as the idea that the Norse myth of Ragnarök was inspired by the Hyades star cluster.[18]

In 2022, he published Investigating Art, History, and Literature with Astronomy as part of the Springer Praxis series.[19]

Bibliography

  • 2022. Investigating Art, History, and Literature with Astronomy. Springer.
  • 2014. Celestial Sleuth. Springer.

References

  1. ↑ Blaschke, Jayme; University, Texas State. "'Celestial sleuth' sheds new light on Vermeer's masterpiece 'View of Delft'". phys.org. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
  2. ↑ "Department Faculty". www.txst.edu. 2022-08-25. Retrieved 2022-10-15.
  3. 1 2 3 "Don Olson Named as Recipient of 2014 Klopsteg Memorial Lecture Award". www.aapt.org. Retrieved 2022-10-15.
  4. ↑ Magazine, Smithsonian. "Forensic Astronomer Solves Fine Arts Puzzles". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
  5. ↑ Mike Wall (2019-06-06). "How Astronomy Helped Turn the Tide for the Allies on D-Day". Space.com. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
  6. ↑ Peplow, Mark (2004-07-19). "Battle of Marathon date revised". Nature: news040719–1. doi:10.1038/news040719-1. ISSN 0028-0836.
  7. ↑ "Scientists turn up the heat on Marathon's lunar mystery". the Guardian. 2004-07-19. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
  8. ↑ "New Date for Caesar's British Invasion". Sky & Telescope. 2008-06-25. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
  9. ↑ Blaschke, Jayme; University, Texas State. "Frankenstein's moon: Astronomers vindicate account of masterwork". phys.org. Retrieved 2022-10-15.
  10. ↑ "Did the Moon Contribute to the Sinking of the Titanic?". Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
  11. ↑ Blaschke, Jayme; University, Texas State. "The iceberg's accomplice: Did the moon sink the Titanic?". phys.org. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
  12. 1 2 Ouellette, Jennifer. "Forensic Astronomer Cracks the Case of Historic Meteor Procession". Scientific American Blog Network. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
  13. ↑ Megan Gannon (2014-09-16). "Astronomy Detectives Reveal Origin of Monet's 'Impression' Painting". Space.com. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
  14. ↑ Ash, Summer. ""Forensic Astronomy" Reveals the Secrets of an Iconic Ansel Adams Photo". Scientific American. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
  15. ↑ Simons, Paul. "Astronomers can shed light on when a picture was painted". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
  16. ↑ Magazine, Smithsonian; Katz, Brigit. "Is Jupiter the "Star" in Lord Byron's Famous Poem?". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
  17. ↑ Altschuler, Eric L. (2014-03-14). "Reading Clues in the Sky Celestial Sleuth Using Astronomy to Solve Mysteries in Art, History and Literature by Donald W. Olson Springer, New York, 2014. 373 pp. Paper, 39.99. ISBN 9781461484028. Springer-Praxis Books in Popular Astronomy". Science. 343 (6176): 1202. doi:10.1126/science.1252465. ISSN 0036-8075. S2CID 51599372.
  18. ↑ Ouellette, Jennifer (2018-11-16). ""Wolf's jaw" star cluster may have inspired parts of Ragnarök myth". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
  19. ↑ Olson, Donald W. (2022). Investigating Art, History, and Literature with Astronomy. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-95554-0. ISBN 978-3-030-95553-3. S2CID 247544237.
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