He was a giant among planetary scientists of the 20th century. He revolutionized our understanding of the role of cosmic impacts in the evolution of the solar system, including Earth. His ashes are on the moon and he has a fascinating connection to the home of this show – Chico, California. Gene Shoemaker has been described as the father of planetary science. Perhaps that title is a bit much for any one person, but he certainly played a central role in our modern understanding of the intersection of astronomy and geology. He was a great person and tremendous teacher, I feel lucky to have briefly known him.
Blue Dot 33: Gene Shoemaker
