George Ogden Abell (March 27, 1927 – October 7, 1983) was an American astronomer and professor. He taught at UCLA, primarily as a research astronomer. He earned his B.S. in 1951, his M.S. in 1952 and his Ph.D. in 1957, all from Caltech. He was a Ph.D. student under Donald Osterbrock. His astronomy career began as a tour guide at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles. Abell made great contributions to astronomical knowledge which resulted from his work during and after the National Geographic Society - Palomar Observatory Sky Survey, especially concerning clusters of galaxies and planetary nebulae. A galaxy, an asteroid, a periodic comet, and an observatory are all named in his honor. His teaching career extended beyond the campus of UCLA to the high school student oriented Summer Science Program, and educational television. He not only taught about science but also about what is not science. He was an originating member of the Committee on Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal now known as the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.

Early life

George Ogden Abell was born in Los Angeles on March 1, 1927, to Theodore Curtis Abell and Annamarie (Ogden) Abell. Theodore Abell was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, in 1890, was a Unitarian minister, and was one of the original members of the Hollywood Humanist Society. Annamarie was born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1896, and studied to be a librarian, worked for a short while as a librarian but eventually became a social worker. George Ogden Abell was named for his mother's brother, George Ogden.

Theodore and Annamarie divorced when Abell was 6 years old. Annamarie and son went to live with her father, also George Ogden, who was an author of western novels. Theodore maintained regular contact with Abell and took him to many museums and to Griffith Observatory and planetarium when he was about 8, soon after it opened. This prompted Abell to start reading books on astronomy. Abell attended Van Nuys High School where he achieved all As in all math and science courses that he took.

  • The Abell catalog of 2,712 rich clusters of galaxies, which include Abell 68.
  • The recognition of second order clusters of the clusters of galaxies, which also disproved Carl Charlier's hierarchical model.
  • The study of luminosity of clusters showing how they can be used for determination of relative distances.
  • A list of 86 planetary nebulae which includes Abell 39.
  • Recognition that planetary nebulae derive from red giant stars,