The Sun is more than a bright object in our sky. It is a ball of gas that is constantly using nuclear fusion to power itself. We have many photos of the Sun that have been captured through specialized equipment.
His career started when he entered service through the Air force and worked on instrumentation on satellites. He was trying to look at and measure Van Allen belt radiation. Which are energized particles originating from solar winds that are trapped in our magnetic sphere. The diagram below demonstrates how that works with our magnetic spheres.
Then from there he began working for the space laboratory at the Aerospace Corporation in California. He began working on experiments and developing equipment having to do with the Sun. He was really diving deep into the X-ray and UV light area of the Sun.
However it was Arthur B.C. Walker II who was the pioneer for the equipment that we use now a days to look at the sun and monitor it. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio and went to school at University of Illinois. He graduated there with a masters in physics and a doctorate in nuclear physics. But after that he excelled in the fields of X-ray and ultraviolet. Below is a picture of Arthur.
He then began a career as a professor at Stanford in 1974. Where one of his doctoral students became the first female to orbit Earth.
And in the 1990's he began applying X-ray optical systems to astronomical observations. Most notably he developed incidence multilayer XUV telescopes for looking at the solar corona. And his payloads such as the Multi-Spectral Solar telescope array were the first to record the first full high
resolution pictures of the sun. Technology which we still use and apply to modern day technology.
resolution pictures of the sun. Technology which we still use and apply to modern day technology.
Since his passing in 2001, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific has put in place a Arthur B.C. Walker II award," To honor an outstanding scientist whose research and educational efforts substantially contributes to astronomy and who has (1) demonstrated a substantial commitment to mentoring students from underrepresented groups pursuing degrees in astronomy and/or (2) been instrumental in creating or supporting innovative and successful STEM programs designed to support underrepresented students or their teachers" (Wikipedia).
As you can see Dr. Arthur B.C. Walker II made a significant impact to the world of astronomy and has left a lasting impact and legacy in the world of modern astronomy.
Sources:
https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/walker-arthur-bertram-cuthbert-jr-1936-2001/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Allen_radiation_belt
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_B._C._Walker_Jr.
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