From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Randolph Winckler (October 27, 1916 – February 6, 2001) was an American experimental
physicist notable for his discovery of
sprites in 1989
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
and other discoveries in the fields of
solar,
magnetospheric, auroral, and
atmospheric physics.
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]
[11]
[12]
[13]
[14]
[15]
[16]
[17][
excessive citations]
He was also notable for designing new methods and apparatus to collect scientific data from high altitude flying objects such as balloons, rockets, and
spacecraft.
[6] This data collection led Winckler and his staff to major discoveries, such as: discovering that
high-energy electrons accompany
auroras.
[6]
Winckler was an advisor to
NASA,
[14] and a member of the
National Academy of Sciences.
[6]
Notable awards and distinctions
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Star Tribune:Obituary: John Winckler, 84, physicist;by: Kavita Kumar; February 8
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Invisible Lights in the Sky;David Schneider
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Penn State Online:Electric Moments;By Charles Fergus
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Sprites, Blue Jets, Elves and Superbolts
Archived 2012-01-09 at the
Wayback Machine
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physicists explain thunderstorm sprites[
permanent dead link]
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National Academy of Sciences:Biographical Memoirs;V.81;JOHN RANDOLPH WINCKLER;BY KINSEY A. ANDERSON
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"Array of Contemporary physicists:John Winckler". Archived from
the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2012-01-13.
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New York Times:8 GET PRINCETON DEGREES; Ph.D. Awarded to 3 Graduate Students;John Randolph Winckler;April 19, 1946
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New York Times:HEAVY PARTICLES FROM SUN CAUGHT; Balloons and Rockets Trap Elements Close to Earth;These developments were described today to a news conference at the National Academy of Sciences by Dr. John R. Winckler of the University of Minnesota.April 21, 1961
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New York Times:SCIENCE WATCH; Rare Lightning;July 17, 1990;Scientists from the University of Minnesota say they have made the first image of an uncommon form of lightning flashing between cloud tops and the clear air above
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New York Times:Balloon With Cosmic Ray Gear From Midwest Found in Atlantic;November 3, 1961
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New York Times:POLAR BALLOONS TO STUDY SPACE; Cosmic Rays and Northern Lights to Be Observed 5,000-Mile Circle Heat Radiation Test;December 11, 1963
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New York Times:PIONEER PIERCED MAGNETIC CLOUD; Particles Hit Earth 4 to 8 Hours Later -- Other Data Confirm Electric Ring;By WALTER SULLIVAN;March 23, 1960,
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New York Times:25 ADVISERS NAMED FOR SPACE AGENCY; The National Aeronautics and Space Administration announced today the appointment of twenty-five scientists as consultants in five fields of space science;September 4, 1960
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New York Times:Pioneer V Challenges Theory On Causes of Magnetic Storms; Pioneer V Casts Doubts on Magnetic Storm Theory;By WALTER SULLIVAN;April 30, 1960,
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New York Times:New Class of Lightning Found High Above Clouds;January 17, 1995;Page 3 of 5;Dr. John R. Winckler, a retired physicist at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, was helping a colleague try out a new low-light video camera on a clear summer night
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SCIENCE NEW STUDY OF SUN; Changes in Atmosphere During Low Solar Activity to Be Examined;By WALTER SULLIVAN;January 05, 1964,
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"APS Fellow Archive". American Physical Society. (search on year=1953 and institution=University of Minnesota)