About Norman Rumsey
Lived 1924 – 2007 (aged 82–83). Norman Rumsey was a New Zealand astronomer.
Norman Jack Rumsey (15 September 1922 – 9 January 2007) was a New Zealand designer of optical systems.
Rumsey was the head of the optics section of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) from 1949 until his retirement. He developed the optical system for the McLellan telescope at the Mount John University Observatory near Lake Tekapo in the Mackenzie Basin. His design was the basis for a marine navigation system that was commercialised by Vega Industries in Porirua.
4154 Rumsey, a minor planet, is named for him. The citation reads: In the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to optics and astronomy.
Rumsey was a member of the Astronomical Society of Australia and the International Astronomical Union. For many years, he was on the council of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand, was elected a fellow in 1969, and served as its president in 1974/75. He was one of the people who established the Wellington Astronomical Society.
Rumsey died on 9 January 2007.
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Important facts
People in Norman Rumsey's life
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Norman Rumsey?
New Zealand astronomer (1924-2007)
When was Norman Rumsey born?
Norman Rumsey was born in 1924.
When did Norman Rumsey die?
Norman Rumsey died on 9 January 2007.
What was Norman Rumsey's occupation?
Norman Rumsey was an astronomer.
What nationality was Norman Rumsey?
Norman Rumsey was New Zealand.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Norman Rumsey. https://biography.guide/norman-rumsey/
MLA: "Norman Rumsey." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/norman-rumsey/.
Chicago: "Norman Rumsey." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/norman-rumsey/.
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