Adam Block (astrophotographer)

Adam David Block
Born1973 (age 52–53)
Warwick, Rhode Island
Known forAstrophotography

Adam David Block (born 1973) is an American astrophotographer, astronomy researcher, writer and instructor.

Biography

Block grew up in Rhode Island and Georgia, moving west in 1991 to attend the University of Arizona. In 1996, he earned his B.S. degree in Astronomy and Physics. After graduation, he was employed by the National Optical Astronomy Observatory for its public outreach program on Kitt Peak, which he did for nine years. In 2007 he founded the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter for the University of Arizona, which offers public stargazing programs as well as specialized programs in astrophotography.[1] From 2016 on, he has continued work at Steward Observatory, the research arm of the Department of Astronomy at the University of Arizona.[2] Much of his current work concerns characterizing the night sky and space domain awareness.

Astrophotographer

From the age of 13, Block has been an avid astrophotographer. His images and techniques have been featured in Astronomy Magazine,[3][4] Sky & Telescope,[5][6] National Geographic, Scientific American and L'Astronomie. Many have been used by space-based observatories as references for ground-based broadband images of objects.[7][8][9] NASA has used Block's images over 100 times as Astronomy Picture of the Day.[10]

Block describes himself as a popularizer of astronomy through public outreach, but that "... astrophotography has much greater reach since the images I create can be seen by people around the world.”[2] At the 2012 Advanced Imaging Conference, he received the annual Hubble Award for special contributions to the field of astroimaging.[11]

The Minor Planet Center credits Block with the discovery of asteroid 45298 Williamon, made on January 5, 2000.[12] He also has an asteroid named for him, 172525 Adamblock.[13]

Block reported the discovery of stellar tidal streams associated with NGC 3614, initially identified in February 2015.[14]

Comparison of ground-based observations of the HH 399 outflow obtained in 2026.

In 2026, Block reported a ground-based detection of proper motion throughout the HH 399 outflow in the Trifid Nebula, using observations obtained 17 years apart.[15]

Block offers instruction in astrophotography and techniques of image processing, both through magazine articles[16] and personally through his online studios.[17]

References

  1. ↑ Tom Beal (Jul 9, 2010). "Even as a boy, astrophotographer was always focused on infinity". Arizona Daily Star.
  2. 1 2 Rick Wiley (August 12, 2019). "Tucson astrophotographer Adam Block captures the wonders of the night sky". Arizona Daily Star.
  3. ↑ "Adam Block's Cosmic Imaging". Astronomy Magazine.
  4. ↑ "Adam Block's Awesome Universe". Astronomy: 46–51. June 2009.
  5. ↑ "Rosette Nebula in Monoceros". Sky & Telescope: 91. August 2007.
  6. ↑ "Edge-on Spiral Galaxy NGC 891". Sky & Telescope: 78. August 2013.
  7. ↑ "R Aquarii: Watching a Volatile Stellar Relationship". Chandra X-ray Center.
  8. ↑ "The Lagoon Nebula". NASA. 17 December 2018.
  9. ↑ "Zoom into NGC 1073". ESA/Hubble.
  10. ↑ "Astronomy Picture of the Day". NASA.
  11. ↑ David Eicher. "Advanced Imaging Conference 2012, recap". Astronomy.
  12. ↑ "Minor Planet Discoverers (Alphabetically)". IAU Minor Planet Center.
  13. ↑ "JPL Small-Body Database Browser". Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
  14. ↑ Block, Adam (2021). "Discovery of Stellar Streams around NGC 3614". Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society. 5 (6): 142. doi:10.3847/2515-5172/ac0912.
  15. ↑ Block, Adam (2026). "Ground-based Detection of Proper Motion in the HH 399 Outflow of the Trifid Nebula". Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society. 10 (7): 211. doi:10.3847/2515-5172/ae8f4a.
  16. ↑ "Picturing Galaxies". Sky & Telescope: 58–63. January 2021.
  17. ↑ "Adam Block Studios - Instruction in Astrophotography".
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