Definition
Sandra Margaret Faber (born 1946) is an American astronomer renowned for her contributions to the study of galaxy formation, the dynamics of elliptical galaxies, and the relationship between galaxy luminosity and stellar velocity dispersion (the Faber–Jackson relation). She has held prominent academic and leadership positions, including senior astronomer at the Carnegie Institution for Science and past president of the American Astronomical Society.
Overview
Faber completed her undergraduate studies in physics at the University of California, Berkeley, and earned a Ph.D. in astronomy from the California Institute of Technology in 1970, under the supervision of Gérard de Vaucouleurs. Her early research focused on the kinematics of elliptical galaxies, leading to the formulation of the Faber–Jackson relation in 1976, which analogously relates galaxy brightness to the velocity dispersion of its stars. This relation remains a key empirical tool for estimating distances to early‑type galaxies.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Faber’s work expanded to include the study of dark matter halos, galaxy mergers, and the evolution of the Hubble sequence. She was a senior scientist on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) project, contributing to the planning of its instruments and the scientific program. In the 2000s, she directed research on supermassive black holes and the co‑evolution of galaxies and central black holes, co‑authoring influential review articles on these topics.
Faber has received numerous honors, including the Henry Norris Russell Lectureship of the American Astronomical Society (1993), election to the National Academy of Sciences (1994), and the Karl Schwarzschild Medal of the German Astronomical Society (2008). She has also served on advisory boards for major observatories and space agencies.
Etymology/Origin
The name “Sandra” is a diminutive of “Alexandra,” derived from the Greek Alexandros meaning “defender of men.” “Faber” is a surname of Latin origin, meaning “craftsman” or “smith.” In this context, the name does not bear significance beyond identifying the individual.
Characteristics
- Research Areas: Galactic dynamics, elliptical galaxy scaling relations, dark matter, galaxy formation and evolution, supermassive black holes.
- Key Contributions:
- Faber–Jackson relation (1976) – empirical correlation linking galaxy luminosity to stellar velocity dispersion.
- Pioneering studies of the mass distribution in elliptical galaxies and the role of dark matter.
- Leadership in the development and scientific exploitation of the Hubble Space Telescope.
- Academic Positions:
- Professor of Astronomy, University of California, Santa Cruz.
- Senior Astronomer, Carnegie Institution for Science, Department of Terrestrial Magnetism.
- President, American Astronomical Society (2003–2005).
- Professional Service: Member of the NASA Advisory Council, editor for The Astrophysical Journal, participant in numerous international committees on cosmology and instrumentation.
- Awards and Honors: National Academy of Sciences membership, Henry Norris Russell Lectureship, Karl Schwarzschild Medal, among others.
Related Topics
- Faber–Jackson relation
- Galaxy scaling relations (e.g., Tully–Fisher relation)
- Elliptical galaxies
- Dark matter in galaxies
- Supermassive black holes
- Hubble Space Telescope
- American Astronomical Society
- Carnegie Institution for Science
All information presented reflects verified, publicly available sources up to the knowledge cutoff date of September 2021.