Cambridge, MA — Riccardo Giacconi, one of the “founding fathers” of
X-ray astronomy, is a co-recipient of the 2002 Nobel Prize in
Physics. Dr. Giacconi received this award in honor of his work in the
field of X-ray astronomy. Much of that work was carried out by him
and his colleagues at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO)
during the 1970s. Giacconi was also at that time a professor in the
Department of Astronomy at Harvard University and an Associate
Director at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA).

According to the citation from the prize committee, Giacconi received
this award “for pioneering contributions to astrophysics, which have
led to the discovery of cosmic X-ray sources.”

Giacconi worked at the CfA from 1973 to 1981. During that period, he
led the development of the Einstein X-ray Observatory, which was
launched in 1978. The Einstein Observatory was the first fully
imaging X-ray telescope put into space. It provided, for the first
time, the capability to image extended objects, diffuse emission, and
to detect faint sources. It was also the first NASA X-ray mission to
have a Guest Observer program.

In 1976, Giacconi and SAO’s Harvey Tananbaum submitted a proposal
letter to NASA to initiate the study and design of a large X-ray
telescope. This proposal led to the construction and launch of the
very successful Chandra X-ray Observatory, which is operated from a
control center at SAO.

The Nobel Prize in Physics is awarded annually to the person or
persons who “have made the most important discovery or invention
within the field of physics.” The Nobel Prize was established by
Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite. This international award has
been given yearly since 1901 for achievements in physics, chemistry,
medicine, literature and peace. (A Nobel Prize in Economics was added
in 1968.) The prize consists of a medal, a personal diploma, and a
monetary award.

Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Harvard-Smithsonian
Center for Astrophysics (CfA) is a joint collaboration between the
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and the Harvard College
Observatory. CfA scientists organized into six research divisions
study the origin, evolution, and ultimate fate of the universe.