search
Get Started
search
Eugene Shoemaker - Astronomer
zoom_in Click to enlarge

Eugene Shoemaker

description Eugene Shoemaker Overview

Eugene Shoemaker was an American geologist and planetary scientist who founded astrogeology and co-discovered Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 in 1993.

help Eugene Shoemaker FAQ

What famous comet did Eugene Shoemaker co-discover in 1993?

Eugene Shoemaker, along with his wife Carolyn Shoemaker and David Levy, co-discovered Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 in March 1993. This comet is famous for its spectacular collision with the planet Jupiter in July 1994.

What scientific discipline did Eugene Shoemaker help establish?

Shoemaker is widely credited as the founding father of the scientific discipline of astrogeology. He was instrumental in establishing the United States Geological Survey Branch of Astrogeology in the 1960s to map the moon.

Why was Eugene Shoemaker never able to walk on the moon despite training astronauts?

A medical diagnosis of Addison's disease barred him from flying in space, so he never achieved his dream of walking on the moon. However, he trained the Apollo astronauts in field geology, ensuring they knew exactly what lunar rocks to collect.

Are Eugene Shoemaker's remains buried somewhere in space?

Yes, Shoemaker is the only person to ever have their remains buried on the Moon. After his death in 1997, NASA's Lunar Prospector probe carried a small capsule of his ashes, which was intentionally crashed into the lunar surface in 1999.

Reviews & Comments

Write a Review

rate_review

Be the first to review

Share your thoughts with the community and help others make better decisions.

Save to your list

Save your favorites and follow how their scores change over time.

Save favorites
Get updates
Compare scores

Already have an account? Sign in

Compare Items

See how they stack up against each other

Comparing
VS
Select 1 more item to compare