Eugene Merle Shoemaker

Eugene Merle Shoemaker was a renowned American geologist and planetary scientist who specialized in studying impact craters and planetary surfaces. His research helped us understand how asteroid and comet impacts have shaped the Earth and other planets over time. Shoemaker played a key role in identifying several significant impact sites, including the Chicxulub crater, linked to the dinosaurs' extinction. He was also a pioneer in using telescopic surveys to discover near-Earth objects. His work greatly advanced planetary geology and our understanding of outer space, earning him lasting recognition in the scientific community.