{{Short description|British astronomer and academic}} {{EngvarB|date=June 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}} '''Carl Desmond Murray''' (born September 1955) is an Irish academic who is Emeritus Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy at [[Queen Mary University of London]] (formerly Queen Mary College). He is a planetary scientist and a world expert on the [[rings of Saturn]]. With [[Stanley Dermott]] he is the author of a benchmark textbook in the field of [[Solar System]] Dynamics.<ref name=dnamics>[https://www.worldcat.org/title/699860395?oclcNum=699860395 Solar System Dynamics] by Carl D. Murray & Stanley F. Dermott, Cambridge University Press, February 2000, {{ISBN | 0521575974}}</ref>
==Education and career== Carl Murray was born September 1955 in [[Belfast]], Northern Ireland, the son of physician [[Francis Murray (physician)|Frank Murray]]. He grew up there and in [[Newcastle, County Down]]. He obtained a BSc in [[Applied mathematics]] with [[Astrophysics]] from Queen Mary College in London in 1977, achieving [[British undergraduate degree classification|First 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" under [[Iwan P. Williams]].<ref>[https://www.mathgenealogy.org/id.php?id=84472 Carl D. Murray] at the [[Mathematics Genealogy Project]]</ref><ref name=fring>[https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/11179/insiders-cassini-dr-carl-murray-and-the-f-ring/ Insider's Cassini: Dr. Carl Murray and the F Ring] by Todd J. Barber, NASA, 21 July 2010</ref>
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 the [[University 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 the [[Cassini Imaging Team]], serving as the sole representative from the United Kingdom.<ref name=cassini>[https://www.qmul.ac.uk/media/news/2017/se/the-mission-of-a-lifetime-professor-carl-murray-and-cassini-27-years-later.html The mission of a lifetime: Professor Carl Murray and Cassini, 27 years later] Queen Mary University of London, 2017</ref> He has studied the intricate dynamics of [[Rings of Saturn|Saturn's rings]], especially the complex and mysterious [[Rings of Saturn#F Ring|F-ring]], along with gravitational interactions between the rings and neighbouring moons.<ref name=fring/>
In 2007 a team of astronomers from the [[European Space Agency]] led by Murray discovered a new moon (the 60th) of Saturn using the [[Cassini–Huygens|Cassini Space Probe]].<ref name=moon>[https://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2007/07/23/1985322.htm Meet Frank, Saturn's 60th moon] [[ABC Science]], 23 July 2007</ref><ref>[https://www.esa.int/Science%20Exploration/Space%20Science/Cassini-Huygens/Saturn%20s%2060th Saturn’s 60th] The European Space Agency, 20 July 2007</ref>
He has also served as:<ref>[https://www.sciencedirect.com/search?pub=Icarus&cid=272593&qs=Carl%20D.%20Murray 198 results for Carl D. Murray] [[ScienceDirect]]</ref> : (2014–2021) Science Editor for Monthly Notices of the [[Royal Astronomical Society]] : (1998–2004) Associate Editor of [[Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy]] : (1991–2010) Associate/Consulting Editor of [[Icarus (journal)|Icarus]]
==Books== * ''Planetary Ring Systems: Properties, Structure, and Evolution'', with Matthew S. Tiscareno, 22 March 2018 * ''Solar System Dynamics'', with Stanley F. Dermott, 26 February 2010<ref name=dnamics/> * ''Atlas of the Planar, Circular, Restricted Three-Body Problem'', with Othon C. Winter, 1 September 1994 * ''Expansion of the Planetary Disturbing Function of Eighth Ord'', with David Harper, 1 March 1993
==Awards and honours== * Fellow of the [[Royal Astronomical Society]] (since 1980) * Member of the [[International Astronomical Union]] (since 1985) * Member of the [[American Astronomical Society]] (since 1990) * Member of the [[American Geophysical Union]] (since 2013)
Asteroid (5598) Carlmurray is named in his honour.<ref name=qmary>[https://www.carlmurray.info/ Carl D. Murray] Astronomy Unit, School of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== : * [https://www.qmul.ac.uk/spcs/staff/emeritus-staff/profiles/cdmurray.html Carl Murray's homepage] * [https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/Carl-D-Murray-2038713294 Research papers of Carl D. Murray]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Murray, Carl D.}} [[Category:1955 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Academics of Queen Mary University of London]] [[Category:Astronomers from Northern Ireland]] [[Category:Alumni of Queen Mary University of London]] [[Category:Fellows of the Royal Society]] [[Category:People from Newcastle, County Down]] [[Category:British planetary scientists]] [[Category:Scientists from Belfast]] [[Category:20th-century British astronomers]] [[Category:21st-century British astronomers]]