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How old were the authors of significant research in twentieth century astronomy at the time of their greatest achievements?

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Abstract

This paper examines the contributions given in theSource Book in Astronomy and Astrophysics 1900–1975 with respect to the question: how old were the authors at the time of their greatest achievements? As average value of the age of the authors at the time of the publication we find A=39.8±10.9 years and a little difference for more empirical and the theoretical papers.

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References

  1. K. R. LANG, O. GINGERICH (Eds),A Source Book of Astronomy and Astrophysics 1900–1975, Cambridge/Mass., London, 1979.

  2. D. B. HERRMANN, Astronomy in 20the century,Scientometrics, 9 (1986) 189.

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  3. H. ABT, At what age did outstanding American Astronomers publish their most-cited papers?Publications of the Astronomical Society of Pacific, 95 (1983) 113.

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Translated from german by KevinKrisciunas (USA). A more detailed paper is published inNTM-Schriftenreihe für Geschichte der Naturwissenschaften, Technik und Medizin, Leipzig, 24, No. 2 (1987).

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Herrmann, D.B. How old were the authors of significant research in twentieth century astronomy at the time of their greatest achievements?. Scientometrics 13, 135–137 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02017180

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