Carlyle Smith Beals

Early life and education Carlyle Smith Beals was born in Canso, Nova Scotia to Rev. Francis H. P. Beals and his wife, Annie Florence Nightingale Smith Beals, on June 29, 1899. He is the brother of artist and educator Helen D. Beals.

Beals received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Acadia University in 1919, specializing in physics and mathematics. He showed that the broad emission lines seen in Wolf-Rayet and P Cygni-type stars were due to strong stellar winds. Beals was the first astronomer to quantitatively measure the ratio of sodium and calcium absorption lines in the interstellar medium (the gas between stars) and the ratio of the two lines in the sodium D doublet. Aerial photograph of the Pingualuit (New Quebec) Crater used in Carlyle Beals' research on Canadian impact craters. While in Ottawa, he became interested in the geophysical activities of the observatory. He began a study of meteorite impact craters in the Canadian shield, searching for circular features in aerial photographs and organising drill core studies of the most promising targets. He also served as president of the American Astronomical Society from 1962-1964, the only Canadian to hold the position.

In March 1951, Beals was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of London.

Beals received honorary degrees from Acadia University, the University of New Brunswick, Queen's University and the University of Pittsburgh.

The asteroid 3314 Beals and the crater Beals on the Moon are both named for Beals.

Personal life In 1931, Beals married Miriam White Bancroft, a professional musician and piano teacher. Archival reference number is R15735.