The American Astronomical Society has awarded its highest honor, the
Henry Norris Russell Lectureship, to Princeton astrophysicist James
Gunn for "a lifetime of eminence in astronomical research."
The society cited Gunn for his "contributions to observational,
instrumental and theoretical astrophysics that have informed our
understanding of the universe and a large fraction of its contents."
Among specific contributions, the society noted Gunn's founding concept
for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, the most comprehensive mapping and
cataloging of stars, galaxies and quasars ever undertaken.
Recipients of the honor are invited to give a lecture dealing with a
broad astronomical field at a meeting designated by the governing
council of the astronomical society. Expenses and arrangements for
publication of the lecture are covered by the society. Gunn, the Eugene
Higgins Professor of Astronomy, joined the Princeton faculty in 1968.