Thomas A. Hockey Receives 2026 Doggett Prize

The American Astronomical Society’s Historical Astronomy Division (HAD) is proud to announce that Dr. Thomas A. Hockey, Professor of Astronomy at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), has been named the recipient of the 2026 LeRoy E. Doggett Prize for Historical Astronomy. This biennial award recognizes individuals who have significantly influenced the field of the history of astronomy through a career-long effort.

After earning his PhD at New Mexico State University, Dr. Hockey has been on the faculty at UNI since 1988. His academic work bridges astronomy, history, and education, spanning topics from planetary observations and eclipse history to the cultural dimensions of astronomy. He has authored numerous influential works, including Galileo’s Planet: Observing Jupiter Before Photography (1999), How We See the Sky (2011), and, most recently, America’s First Eclipse Chasers (2023). He has also served as editor of Archaeoastronomy: The Journal of Astronomy in Culture and has contributed to the preservation of astronomical sites and heritage through leadership in AAS and IAU (International Astronomical Union) working groups. Dr. Hockey is well known as the visionary behind the Biographical Encyclopedia of Astronomers (BEA), a monumental reference work now entering its third edition. As Editor in Chief, he coordinated over 450 authors worldwide and personally contributed more than 250 biographies, ensuring the preservation of astronomy’s human record.

In addition to his academic work, Dr. Hockey has a long record of service relevant to the history of astronomy. He is one of only two individuals who have held every elected HAD office. In these roles, he produced the AAS obituaries, edited the newsletter, and served on prize committees. He has been a reviewer for the Herbert C. Pollock Award given by Dudley Observatory for work in the history of astronomy. In 2009, he organized the AAS Cultural Astronomy School. Dr. Hockey was also the secretary of the former IAU Commission 41 Working Group on Astronomy and World Heritage, and organized cultural astronomy events in support of the International Year of Astronomy.

Through his scholarship, teaching, and leadership, Dr. Thomas Hockey has deepened our understanding of astronomy’s past while safeguarding its legacy for future generations. In honoring him with the Doggett Prize, HAD recognizes not only his exceptional body of work but also his generosity, humility, and commitment to bridging science, history, and culture.

Dr. Hockey will deliver the Doggett Prize plenary talk “Don't Let Anybody Tell You to Plan Your Career" on Tuesday, 6 January 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona, at the 247th AAS meeting.