Bengt Elis Westerlund (January 17, 1921 - June 4, 2008)[1][2] was aSwedish astronomer who specialised in observationalastronomy.
He received hisPhD fromUppsala University in 1954.[2] In 1957 he was appointed astronomer at theUppsala Southern Station atMount Stromlo Observatory inAustralia, where he made extensive studies of the southernMilky Way and theMagellanic Clouds.[1] In 1967 he took a position as astronomer atSteward Observatory inArizona and in 1969 was appointed Director ofESO inChile, a position he held until 1975, when he returned to Sweden to become Professor of Astronomy atUppsala Astronomical Observatory, retiring in 1987.[2]
His work on the structure of the Milky Way and the Magellanic Clouds was held in high regard. He contributed significantly in studies ofstar clusters, stellar populations,carbon stars,planetary nebulae,Wolf-Rayet stars,stellar classification andsupernova remnants.[2] He was regarded as an expert on the Magellanic Clouds[1] and wrote a book on them (The Magellanic Clouds, Cambridge University Press, 1997ISBN 0521480701).
He discovered or rediscovered three open star clusters,Westerlund 1,Westerlund 2 andWesterlund 3.[3] He also discovered thered supergiant,WOH G64.[4]
Asteroid2902 Westerlund was named after him when he retired from his professorship and theWesterlund telescope inUppsala was named in his honour in 2004.[1]
