Carl Desmond Murray (born September 1955) is an Irish academic who is Emeritus Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy atQueen Mary University of London (formerly Queen Mary College). He is a planetary scientist and a world expert on therings of Saturn. WithStanley Dermott he is the author of a benchmark textbook in the field ofSolar System Dynamics.[1]
Carl Murray was born September 1955 inBelfast, Northern Ireland, the son of physicianFrank Murray. He grew up there and inNewcastle, County Down. He obtained a BSc inApplied mathematics withAstrophysics from Queen Mary College in London in 1977, achievingFirst Class Honours. He earned a PhD from the same institution in January 1980, with the thesis "Aspects of the Dynamical Evolution of Small Particles in the Solar System" underIwan P. Williams.[2][3]
His career has been spent on the staff at Queen Mary College (later known as Queen Mary University of London). He has been a Courtesy Professor in the Department of Astronomy at theUniversity of Florida since 1995.
Murray's interests span all facets of solar system dynamics, encompassing everything from the evolution of minute dust particles to the stability of celestial bodies like planets. Since being selected in 1990, he has been a key member of theCassini Imaging Team, serving as the sole representative from the United Kingdom.[4] He has studied the intricate dynamics ofSaturn's rings, especially the complex and mysteriousF-ring, along with gravitational interactions between the rings and neighbouring moons.[3]
In 2007 a team of astronomers from theEuropean Space Agency led by Murray discovered a new moon (the 60th) of Saturn using theCassini Space Probe.[5][6]
He has also served as:[7]
Asteroid (5598) Carlmurray is named in his honour.[8]
