About Bengt Westerlund
Lived 1921 – 2008 (aged 87). Bengt Westerlund was a Swedish astrophysicist, astronomer and university teacher.
Bengt Elis Westerlund (January 17, 1921 - June 4, 2008) was a Swedish astronomer who specialised in observational astronomy.
He received his PhD from Uppsala University in 1954. He also discovered numerous red supergiants and giants within the Large Magellanic Cloud (along with several foreground stars), including the red hypergiant WOH G64 A.
Honors
Namesakes Asteroid 2902 Westerlund was named after him when he retired from his professorship and the Westerlund telescope in Uppsala was named in his honour in 2004.
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Important facts
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Bengt Westerlund?
Swedish astronomer (1921–2008)
When was Bengt Westerlund born?
Bengt Westerlund was born on 17 January 1921 in Gävle.
When did Bengt Westerlund die?
Bengt Westerlund died on 4 June 2008 in Uppsala.
What was Bengt Westerlund's occupation?
Bengt Westerlund was an astrophysicist, astronomer and university teacher.
What nationality was Bengt Westerlund?
Bengt Westerlund was Swedish.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Bengt Westerlund. https://biography.guide/bengt-westerlund/
MLA: "Bengt Westerlund." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/bengt-westerlund/.
Chicago: "Bengt Westerlund." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/bengt-westerlund/.
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