His Contributions To Astronomy
Carl Seyfert published many papers in the astronomical literature, on a wide variety of topics in stellar and galactic astronomy, as well as on observing methods and instrumentation.
In 1943 he published a paper on galaxies with bright nuclei that emit light with emission line spectra with characteristically broadened emission lines. The prototype example is Messier 77 (NGC 1068). It is this class of galaxies that is now known as Seyfert galaxies, in his honor.
During his time at the Case Institute, he and Nassau obtained the first good color images of nebulae and stellar spectra. In 1951 he observed and described a group of galaxies around NGC 6027, now known as Seyfert's Sextet. He was an active innovator in instrumentation, being involved in new techniques such as the astronomical use of photomultiplier tubes and television techniques, and electronically controlled telescope drives.
The lunar crater Seyfert is named in his honor (29.1N, 114.6E, 110 km diameter). The 24-inch (610 mm) telescope at Dyer Observatory was renamed for him.
Read more about this topic: Carl Keenan Seyfert
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“It is noticed, that the consideration of the great periods and spaces of astronomy induces a dignity of mind, and an indifference to death.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)