Hoag’s legacy
If beauty is symmetry laced with mystery, then a discovery by a young doctoral student back in 1950 could be one of the most beautiful ever. His discovery has inspired not only generations of professional astronomers but has also intrigued amateurs drawn to arcana of the sky.
Arthur Hoag was born in 1921 and spent his early years in the New York City area. His childhood was marred by the tragic death of his mother and younger sister in a barge accident on the Hudson River when he was five. His father died when Arthur was 15, but the lad had the fortunate support of an extended family. Teachers, both in high school and at Brown University, where he graduated in 1942 with a degree in physics, stoked his interest in astronomy.
After World War II, Hoag attended Harvard University, where he was mentored by Bart Bok. He received his PhD in 1952, and then went on to become the first director of
