SUNSET: 
Owen Jay Gingerich, 1930–2023
Owen Jay Gingerich, well-known historian of astronomy and contributor to Sky & Telescope for more than half a century, died on May 28, 2023.
Terence Dickinson (1943 – 2023)
Terence Dickinson, Canadian astronomer and author of numerous popular books on astronomy, has passed away.
Remembering Akira Fujii (1941-2022), Photographer Par Excellence
Acclaimed astrophotographer Akira Fujii's wide-field views of the constellations, each with impeccable star images, have been a hallmark of Sky & Telescope magazine for nearly four decades.
Remembering Donald Machholz, 1952 - 2022
Sky & Telescope honors the life of Donald Machholz, one of the premier comet-hunters of his time.
Remembering Carolyn Shoemaker (1929–2021)
Shoemaker discovered more than 800 asteroids and 32 comets, including one of the most famous comets of the 20th century.
Famous and Noteworthy Astronomers
Celebrating Astronomer Margaret Burbidge, 1919–2020
The astronomer who taught us we are all made of stardust has passed away after celebrating her 100th birthday on August 12, 2019.
Remembering Dr. Michael D. Reynolds, 1954 – 2019
Mike Reynolds, passionate astronomy educator and former executive director of the Association of Lunar & Planetary Observers (ALPO), passed away suddenly on October 15th.
Barbara Wilson — A Remembrance
Barbara Wilson passed away on September 24, 2019, after battling cancer for several months. Barbara was very well known in the amateur astronomy community as a dedicated and talented deep-sky observer. But she was much more than that.
Bradley Wells Timerson, 1950 – 2018
Long-time Sky & Telescope collaborator Bradley Wells Timerson passed away at age 68 on Wednesday, October 17, 2018.
Famous and Noteworthy Astronomers
Stephen Hawking, 1942–2018
Stephen Hawking, renowned physicist, famed science communicator, and all-around inspiration, has passed away at the age of 76.
Comet Discoverer Thomas Bopp (1949–2018)
An unassuming amateur astronomer forever linked to one of the greatest comets in modern history has passed away.
Vera Rubin, "Mother of Dark Matter" (1928–2016)
Astronomer Vera Rubin, known for her revolutionary work confirming the existence of dark matter, died on December 25th. She was 88.
Antonín Rükl, 1932–2016
A world-renowned lunar cartographer, whose beautiful atlases have become prized possessions, has died at age 83.
Donald C. Parker, 1939-2015
Donald C. Parker, a planetary imaging pioneer, passed away in Miami, Florida on February 22, 2015.
Bill Bradfield, Comet Hunter Extraordinaire (1927-2014)
The prolific comet hunter William A. Bradfield tallied 18 comets in his lifetime, each discovered visually and credited to him alone.
Jean Texereau, Master Optician
In France, one of the giants of telescope making has died. He shared his years of professional experience with amateurs around the world.
John Dobson, 1915-2014
Ask any long-time stargazer who has had the greatest impact on amateur astronomy, and the name of this barnstorming, telescope-making revolutionary will surely come up.
Janet Akyüz Mattei (1943–2004)
Janet Mattei served as director for the American Association for Variable Star Observers for 30 years.
