List of astronomers

The following is a list of astronomers, astrophysicists and other notable people who have made contributions to the field of astronomy. They may have won major prizes or awards, developed or invented widely used techniques or technologies within astronomy, or are directors of major observatories or heads of space-based telescope projects.

Notable astronomers
In alphabetical order:

A

 * Aryabhata (India, 476–550)
 * Marc Aaronson (United States, 1950–1987)
 * George Ogden Abell (United States, 1927–1983)
 * Hiroshi Abe (Japan, 1958–)
 * Antonio Abetti (Italy, 1846–1928)
 * Giorgio Abetti (Italy, 1882–1982)
 * Charles Greeley Abbot (United States, 1872–1973)
 * Charles Hitchcock Adams (United States, 1868–1951)
 * John Couch Adams (United Kingdom, 1819–1892)
 * Walter Sydney Adams (United States, 1876–1956)
 * Saul Adelman (United States, 1944–)
 * Petrus Alphonsi (Spain, 1062–1110)
 * Agrippa (Greece, fl. c. 92)
 * Paul Oswald Ahnert (Germany, 1897–1989)
 * Eva Ahnert-Rohlfs (Germany, 1912–1954)
 * George Biddell Airy (United Kingdom, 1801–1892)
 * Robert Aitken, (United States, 1864–1951)
 * Makio Akiyama (Japan, 1950–)
 * Al Battani (Iraq, 850–929)
 * Albategnius (see Al-Batani)
 * Vladimir Aleksandrovich Albitzky (Russia, 1891–1952)
 * Abu Ma'shar al-Balkhi (Persia, 787–886)
 * George Alcock (United Kingdom, 1913–2000)
 * Harold Alden (United States, 1890–1964)
 * Hannes Alfvén (Sweden, 1908–1995)
 * Lawrence H. Aller (United States, 1913–2003)
 * Abd Al-Rahman Al Sufi (Persia, 903–986)
 * Viktor Amazaspovich Ambartsumian, (Armenia, 1912–1996)
 * John August Anderson (United States, 1876–1959)
 * Wilhelm Anderson (Estonia, 1880–1940)
 * Marie Henri Andoyer (France, 1862–1929)
 * Andronicus of Cyrrhus (Greece, fl. 100 BC)
 * Anders Jonas Ångström (Sweden, 1814–1874)
 * Eugène Michel Antoniadi (Greece-France, 1870–1944)
 * Masakatsu Aoki (Japan, 1957–)
 * Petrus Apianus (Germany, 1495–1557)
 * François Arago (France, 1786–1853)
 * Masaru Arai (Japan, 1952–)
 * Hiroshi Araki (Japan)
 * Sylvain Arend (Belgium, 1902–1992)
 * Friedrich Wilhelm Argelander (Germany, 1799–1875)
 * Aristarchus of Samos (Greece, c. 310 BC – c. 230 BC)
 * Christoph Arnold (Germany, 1650–1695)
 * Halton Christian Arp (United States, 1927–2013)
 * Svante Arrhenius (Sweden, 1859–1927)
 * Arzachel (Spain, 1028–1087)
 * Asada Goryu (Japan, 1734–1799)
 * Atsuo Asami (Japan)
 * Giuseppe Asclepi (Italy, 1706–1776)
 * Joseph Ashbrook (United States, 1918–1980)
 * Arthur Auwers (Germany, 1838–1915)
 * Adrien Auzout (France, 1622–1691)
 * David Axon (England, 1951–2012)

B

 * Brahmagupta (India, 598–668 CE)
 * Bhaskara I (India, 629 CE)
 * Bhaskara II (India, 1114–1185)
 * Walter Baade (Germany, 1893–1960)
 * Harold D. Babcock (United States, 1882–1968)
 * Horace W. Babcock (United States, 1912–2003)
 * Oskar Backlund (Sweden, 1846–1916)
 * John N. Bahcall (United States, 1934–2005)
 * Yoshiaki Banno (Japan, 1952–1991)
 * Benjamin Baillaud (France, 1848–1934)
 * Jules Baillaud (France, 1876–1960)
 * Jean-Baptiste Baille (France, 1841–1918)
 * Jean Sylvain Bailly (France, 1736–1793)
 * Francis Baily (United Kingdom, 1774–1844)
 * John Bainbridge (United Kingdom, 1582–1643)
 * John E. Baldwin (United Kingdom, 1931–2010)
 * Sallie Baliunas (United States, 1953–)
 * Zoltán Balog (Hungary/United States, 1972–)
 * Benjamin Banneker (United States, 1731–1806)
 * Pietro Baracchi (Italy, Australia, 1851–1926)
 * Beatriz Barbuy (Brazil, 1950–)
 * Edward Emerson Barnard (United States, 1857–1923)
 * Julius Bauschinger (France, 1860–1934)
 * Johann Bayer (Germany, 1572–1625)
 * Antonín Bečvář (Czechoslovakia, 1901–1965)
 * Wilhelm Beer (Germany, 1797–1850)
 * Sergei Ivanovich Belyavsky (Russia, 1883–1953)
 * Charles L. Bennett (United States, 1956–)
 * Jocelyn Bell Burnell (United Kingdom, 1943–)
 * Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel (Germany, 1784–1846)
 * Somnath Bharadwaj (India, 1964–)
 * Wilhelm Freiherr von Biela (Austria, 1782–1856)
 * Ludwig Biermann (Germany, 1907–1986)
 * Wolf Bickel (Germany. 1942–)
 * Guillaume Bigourdan (France, 1851–1932)
 * James Binney (United Kingdom, 1950–)
 * Biruni (Persia, 973–1048)
 * Gennady S. Bisnovatyi-Kogan (Russia, 1941–)
 * Adriaan Blaauw (Netherlands, 1914–2010)
 * Nathaniel Bliss (United Kingdom, 1700–1764)
 * Johann Elert Bode (Germany, 1747–1826)
 * Alfred Bohrmann (Germany, 1904–2000)
 * Bart Bok (Netherlands, 1906–1983)
 * Charles Thomas Bolton (United States/Canada, 1943–2021)
 * John Gatenby Bolton (United Kingdom/Australia, 1922–1993)
 * William Cranch Bond (United States, 1789–1859)
 * Alphonse Borrelly (France, 1842–1926)
 * Rudjer Boscovich (Dalmatia, 1711–1787)
 * Lewis Boss (United States, 1846–1912)
 * Alexis Bouvard (France, 1767–1843)
 * Rychard Bouwens (United States, 1972–)
 * Edward L. G. Bowell (United States, 1943–)
 * Ira Sprague Bowen (United States, 1898–1973)
 * Louis Boyer (France, 1901–1999)
 * Brian J. Boyle (Scotland and Australia, 1960–)
 * Ronald N. Bracewell (Australia, United States, 1921–2007)
 * James Bradley (United Kingdom, 1693–1762)
 * William A. Bradfield (New Zealand, Australia, 1927–2014)
 * Tycho Brahe (Denmark, 1546–1601)
 * John Alfred Brashear (United States, 1840–1920)
 * William Robert Brooks (United States, 1844–1922)
 * Theodor Brorsen (Denmark, 1819–1895)
 * Dirk Brouwer (Netherlands–United States, 1902–1966)
 * Ernest William Brown (United Kingdom, 1866–1938)
 * Michael (Mike) E. Brown (United States, 1965–)
 * Hermann Alexander Brück (Germany, 1905–2000)
 * Ismael Bullialdus (France, 1605–1694)
 * Margaret Burbidge (United Kingdom–United States, 1919–2020)
 * Robert Burnham, Jr. (United States, 1931–1993)
 * Sherburne Wesley Burnham (United States, 1838–1921)
 * Schelte J. Bus (United States, 1956–)
 * Bimla Buti (India, 1933–)

C

 * William Wallace Campbell (United States, 1862–1938)
 * Annie Jump Cannon (United States, 1863–1941)
 * Luigi Carnera (Italy, 1875–1962)
 * Edwin Francis Carpenter (United States, 1898–1963)
 * James Carpenter (United Kingdom, 1840–1899)
 * Richard Christopher Carrington (United Kingdom, 1826–1875)
 * Sir John Carroll (United Kingdom, 1899–1974)
 * Anthony W. Case (United States, 1980–)
 * César-François Cassini de Thury (France, 1714–1784)
 * Dominique, comte de Cassini (France, 1748–1845)
 * Giovanni Domenico Cassini (France, 1625–1712)
 * Jacques Cassini (France, 1677–1756)
 * Bonaventura Cavalieri (Italy, 1598–1647)
 * Anders Celsius (Sweden, 1701–1744)
 * Vincenzo Cerulli (Italy, 1859–1927)
 * Jean Chacornac (France, 1823–1873)
 * James Challis (United Kingdom, 1803–1882)
 * Radha Gobinda Chandra (Bangladesh, India, 1878–1975)
 * Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar (India, United States, 1910–1995)
 * Carl Charlier (Sweden, 1862–1934)
 * Auguste Charlois (France, 1864–1910)
 * Lyudmila Ivanovna Chernykh (Russia/Ukraine, 1935–2017)
 * Nikolai Stepanovich Chernykh (Russia/Ukraine, 1931–2004)
 * James Christy (United States, 1938–)
 * Klim Churyumov (Ukraine, 1937–2016)
 * Barry G. Clark (United States, 1938–)
 * Edwin Foster Coddington (United States, 1870–1950)
 * Jérôme Eugène Coggia (France, 1849–1919)
 * Josep Comas i Solà (Spain, 1868–1937)
 * Andrew Ainslie Common (United Kingdom, 1841–1903)
 * Guy Consolmagno (United States, 1952–)
 * Nicolaus Copernicus (Prussia/Poland), 1473–1543)
 * Corsono Carsono (Spain)
 * Janine Connes (France, 1934–)
 * Pablo Cottenot (France)
 * Heather Couper (United Kingdom, 1949–2020)
 * Leopold Courvoisier (Switzerland, 1873–1955)
 * Arthur Edwin Covington (Canada, 1914–2001)
 * Philip Herbert Cowell (United Kingdom, 1870–1949)
 * Thomas George Cowling (United Kingdom, 1906–1990)
 * Andrew Claude de la Cherois Crommelin (United Kingdom, 1865–1939)
 * Luíz Cruls (Brazil, 1848–1908)
 * James Cuffey (United States, 1911–1999)
 * Heber Doust Curtis (United States, 1872–1942)
 * Florence Cushman (United States, 1860–1940)

D

 * Alexander Dalgarno (United States, 1928–2015)
 * Jacques Eugène d'Allonville (France, 1671–1732)
 * Andre Louis Danjon (France, 1890–1967)
 * Heinrich d'Arrest (Germany, 1822–1875)
 * George Howard Darwin (United Kingdom, 1845–1912)
 * Roger Davies (United Kingdom, 1954–)
 * Leonardo da Vinci (Italy, 1452–1519)
 * William Rutter Dawes (United Kingdom, 1799–1868)
 * Bernhard Dawson (Argentina, 1890–1960)
 * Leo de Ball (Germany, Austria, 1853–1916)
 * Henri Debehogne (Belgium, 1928–2007)
 * Annibale de Gasparis (Italy, 1819–1892)
 * Jean Baptiste Joseph Delambre (France, 1749–1822)
 * Charles-Eugène Delaunay (France, 1816–1872)
 * Eugène Joseph Delporte (Belgium, 1882–1955)
 * Audrey C. Delsanti (France, 1976–)
 * William Frederick Denning (United Kingdom, 1848–1931)
 * Alíz Derekas (Hungary, 1977–)
 * Willem de Sitter (Netherlands, 1872–1934)
 * Henri-Alexandre Deslandres (France, 1853–1948)
 * Alexander Nikolaevich Deutsch (Russia, 1900–1986)
 * Gérard de Vaucouleurs (France/United States, 1918–1995)
 * Robert Dicke (United States, 1916–1997)
 * Terence Dickinson (Canada, 1943–)
 * Thomas Digges (United Kingdom, 1546–1595)
 * Herbert Dingle (United States, 1890–1978)
 * Andrea Di Paola (Italy, 1970–)
 * Ewine van Dishoeck (Netherlands, 1955–)
 * Giovanni Battista Donati (Italy, 1826–1873)
 * Frank Drake (United States, 1930–)
 * Henry Draper (United States, 1837–1882)
 * Mary Anna Draper (United States, 1839–1914)
 * John Dreyer (Ireland, 1852–1926)
 * Alexander D. Dubyago (Russia), 1903–1959)
 * Dmitrij I. Dubyago (Russia), 1850–1918)
 * Jean C. B. Dufay (France, 1896–1967)
 * Raymond Smith Dugan (United States, 1878–1940)
 * James Dunlop (Scotland, 1793–1848)
 * Richard B. Dunn (United States, 1927–2005)
 * Petar Đurković (Serbia, 1908–1981)
 * Frank Watson Dyson (United Kingdom, 1868–1939)

E

 * Arthur Eddington (United Kingdom, 1882–1944)
 * Frank K. Edmondson (United States, 1912–2008)
 * Olin J. Eggen (United States, 1919–1998)
 * David J. Eicher (United States, 1961–)
 * Albert Einstein (Germany, 1879–1955)
 * Eise Eisinga (Netherlands, 1744–1828)
 * Eric Walter Elst (Belgium, 1936–2022)
 * Johann Franz Encke (Germany, 1791–1865)
 * Kin Endate (Japan, 1960–)
 * Eratosthenes (Alexandria, 276 BC – 194 BC)
 * Emil Ernst (Germany, 1889–1942)
 * Ernest Esclangon (France, 1876–1954)
 * Fred Espenak (United States, 1953–)
 * Larry W. Esposito (United States, 1951–)
 * Eudoxus (Cnidus, c. 408 BC – c. 355 BC)
 * Robert Evans (Australia, 1937–2022)

F

 * David Fabricius (Netherlands, 1564–1617)
 * Sandra M. Faber (United States, 1945–)
 * Johannes Fabricius (Netherlands, 1587–1615)
 * Fearon Fallows (United Kingdom, 1789–1831)
 * Hervé Faye (France, 1814–1902)
 * Charles Fehrenbach (France, 1914–2008)
 * Farghani (Persia, 800–870)
 * James Ferguson (United States, 1797–1867)
 * Alex Filippenko (United States, 1958–)
 * Erwin Finlay-Freundlich (Germany, 1885–1964)
 * Axel Firsoff (United Kingdom, 1910–1981)
 * Debra Fischer (United States)
 * J. Richard Fisher (United States, 1943–)
 * Camille Flammarion (France, 1842–1925)
 * Gabrielle Renaudot Flammarion (France, 1867–1962)
 * John Flamsteed (United Kingdom, 1646–1719)
 * Honoré Flaugergues (France, 1755–1835)
 * Williamina Fleming (United States, 1857–1911)
 * Wilhelm Julius Foerster (Germany, 1832–1921)
 * Alfred Fowler (United Kingdom, 1868–1940)
 * William Alfred Fowler (United States, 1911–1995)
 * Philip Fox (United States, 1878–1944)
 * Andrew Fraknoi (United States, 1948–)
 * Joseph von Fraunhofer (Germany, 1787–1826)
 * Herbert Friedman (United States, 1916–2000)
 * Dirk D. Frimout (Belgium, 1941–)
 * Edwin Brant Frost (United States, 1866–1935)
 * Shigehisa Fujikawa (Japan)
 * Naoshi Fukushima (Japan, 1925–2003)
 * Kiichirō Furukawa (Japan, 1929–2016)
 * Toshimasa Furuta (Japan)

G

 * Bryan Gaensler (Australia, 1973–)
 * Gan De (China, fl. 4th century BC)
 * Galileo Galilei (Italy, 1564–1642)
 * Julio Garavito Armero (Colombia, 1865–1920)
 * Gordon J. Garradd (Australia, 1959–)
 * Ben Gascoigne (New Zealand, Australia, 1915–2010)
 * Margaret Geller (United States, 1947)
 * Gautama Siddha (China, fl. 8th century AD)
 * Johann Gottfried Galle (Germany, 1812–1910)
 * George Gamow (Russia, United States, 1904–1968)
 * Carl Friedrich Gauss (Germany, 1777–1855)
 * Tom Gehrels (Netherlands, United States, 1925–2011)
 * Neil Gehrels (United States, 1952–2017)
 * Andrea M. Ghez (United States, 1965–)
 * Riccardo Giacconi (Italy, 1931–2018)
 * Michel Giacobini (France, 1873–1938)
 * Henry L. Giclas (United States, 1910–2007)
 * David Gill (United Kingdom, 1843–1914)
 * Fred Gillett (United States, 1937–2001)
 * Karl Glazebrook (UK, 1965–)
 * Ian Glass (Ireland/South Africa, 1939–)
 * Thomas Gold (United States, 1920–2004)
 * Leo Goldberg (United States, 1913–1987)
 * Peter Goldreich (United States, 1939–)
 * Hermann Goldschmidt (Germany, 1802–1866)
 * François Gonnessiat (France, 1856–1934)
 * John Goodricke (United Kingdom, 1764–1786)
 * Alyssa A. Goodman (United States, 1962–)
 * Abu Sa'id Gorgani (Persia, 9th century)
 * Paul Götz (Germany, 1883–1962)
 * Benjamin Apthorp Gould (United States, 1824–1896)
 * Andrew Graham (Ireland, 1815–1907)
 * Kathryn Aurora Gray (Canada, 2000–)
 * Charles Green (England, 1735–1771)
 * Jesse Greenstein (United States, 1909–2002)
 * John Grunsfeld (United States, 1956–)
 * Jay U. Gunter (United States, 1911–1994)
 * Alexander A. Gurshtein (Russia, 1937–2020)
 * Bengt Gustafsson (Sweden, 1943–)
 * Guo Shoujing (China, 1231–1316)
 * Alan Harvey Guth (United States, 1947–)

H

 * Yusuke Hagihara (Japan, 1897–1979)
 * Alan Hale (United States, 1958–)
 * George Ellery Hale (United States, 1868–1938)
 * Asaph Hall (United States, 1829–1907)
 * Edmond Halley (England, 1656–1742)
 * Erika Hamden (United States, ?–)
 * Heidi Hammel (United States, 1960–)
 * Mario Hamuy (Chile, 1960–?)
 * Peter Andreas Hansen (Denmark, 1795–1874)
 * Abulfazl Harawi (Persia, 10th century)
 * Karl Ludwig Harding (Germany, 1765–1834)
 * Thomas Hariot (United Kingdom, 1560–1621)
 * Guillermo Haro (Mexico, 1913–1988)
 * Robert George Harrington (United States, 1904–1987)
 * Robert Sutton Harrington (United States, 1942–1993)
 * Edward Robert Harrison (United Kingdom/United States, 1917–2007)
 * William Kenneth Hartmann (United States, 1939–)
 * Lisa Harvey-Smith (Australia, 1979–)
 * Takeo Hatanaka (Japan, 1914–1963)
 * Tim Hawarden (South Africa, 1943–2009)
 * Stephen Hawking (United Kingdom, 1942–2018)
 * Will Hay (United Kingdom, 1888–1949)
 * Chushiro Hayashi (Japan, 1920–2010)
 * Otto Hermann Leopold Heckmann (Germany, 1901–1983)
 * Carl Heiles (United States, 1939–)
 * Joseph Helffrich (Germany, 1872–1971)
 * Eleanor Helin (United States, 1932–2009)
 * Maximilian Hell (Austria-Hungary, 1720–1792)
 * Karl Ludwig Hencke (Germany, 1793–1866)
 * Thomas Henderson (Scotland, 1798–1844)
 * Paul Henry (France, 1848–1905)
 * Prosper Henry (France, 1849–1903)
 * Abraham bar Hiyya (Spanish Jewish), (1070–1136)
 * George Howard Herbig (United States, 1920–2013)
 * Carl W. Hergenrother (United States, 1973–)
 * Caroline Herschel (United Kingdom, 1750–1848)
 * John Herschel (United Kingdom, 1792–1871)
 * William Herschel (United Kingdom/Germany, 1738–1822)
 * Ejnar Hertzsprung (Denmark, 1873–1967)
 * Johannes Hevelius (Poland, 1611–1687)
 * Antony Hewish (United Kingdom, 1924–2021)
 * George William Hill (United States, 1838–1914)
 * John Russell Hind (United Kingdom, 1823–1895)
 * Hipparchus (Nicaea, c. 190 BC–120 BC)
 * Masanori Hirasawa (Japan)
 * Kiyotsugu Hirayama (Japan, 1874–1943)
 * Shin Hirayama (Japan, 1868–1945)
 * Gustave-Adolphe Hirn (France, 1815–1890)
 * Sebastian von Hoerner (Germany), 1919–2003)
 * Cuno Hoffmeister (Germany, 1892–1968)
 * Dorrit Hoffleit (United States, 1907–2007)
 * Helen Sawyer Hogg (Canada, 1905–1993)
 * Minoru Honda (Japan, 1917–1990)
 * Kamil Hornoch (Czech Republic, 1972–)
 * Jeremiah Horrocks (United Kingdom, c. 1619–1641)
 * Cornelis Johannes van Houten (Netherlands, 1920–2002)
 * Ingrid van Houten-Groeneveld (Netherlands, 1921–2015)
 * Martin van den Hove (Netherlands, 1605–1639)
 * Herbert Alonzo Howe (USA, 1858–1926)
 * Fred Hoyle (United Kingdom, 1915–2001)
 * Su-Shu Huang (China/USA, 1915-1977)
 * Edwin Powell Hubble (United States, 1889–1953)
 * William Huggins (United Kingdom, 1824–1910)
 * Russell Alan Hulse (United States, 1950–)
 * Hendrik Christoffel van de Hulst (Netherlands, 1918–2000)
 * Milton Lasell Humason (United States, 1891–1972)
 * Thomas John Hussey (England, 1792–1854)
 * Christiaan Huygens (Netherlands, 1629–1695)
 * Yuji Hyakutake (Japan, 1950–2002)
 * Josef Allen Hynek (United States, 1910–1986)
 * Hypatia (Egypt, (born c. 350–370; died 415 AD)
 * Christopher Hansteen (Norway, 1784–1873)

I

 * Icko Iben, Jr. (United States, 1931–)
 * Kaoru Ikeya (Japan, 1943–)
 * Chris Impey (United Kingdom/United States, 1956–)
 * Robert Thorburn Ayton Innes (Scotland/South Africa, 1861–1933)
 * Shigeru Inoda (Japan, 1955–2008)
 * Jamal Nazrul Islam (Bangladesh, 1939–2013)
 * Edward Israel (United States, 1859–1884)
 * Iwahashi Zenbei (Japan, 1756–1811)
 * Masayuki Iwamoto (Japan, 1954–)
 * Shun-ei Izumikawa (Japan)

J

 * Cyril V. Jackson (South Africa, 1903–1988)
 * Karan Jani (India, 1988–)
 * Pierre Jules César Janssen (France, 1824–1907)
 * James Jeans (United Kingdom, 1877–1946)
 * Benjamin Jekhowsky (Russia/France/Algeria, 1881–1953)
 * Louise Freeland Jenkins (United States, 1888–1970)
 * David C. Jewitt (United Kingdom, 1958–)
 * Jiao Bingzhen (China, 1689–1726)
 * John A. Johnson (United States, 1977–)
 * Alfred Harrison Joy (United States, 1882–1973)
 * Vinod Johri (India, 1935–2014)

K

 * Ali Kuşçu (Turkey, 1403–1474)
 * Tetsuo Kagawa (Japan, 1969–)
 * Franz Kaiser (Germany, 1891–1962)
 * Kiyotaka Kanai (Japan, 1951–)
 * Hiroshi Kaneda (Japan, 1953–)
 * Henry Kandrup (United States, 1955–2003)
 * Jacobus Kapteyn (Netherlands, 1851–1922)
 * Lyudmila Karachkina (Ukraine, 1948–)
 * Ghiyath al-Kashi (Persia, 1380–1429)
 * Jeffrey Owen Katz (United States, 1960–)
 * Karlis Kaufmanis (Latvia/United States, 1910–2003
 * Kōyō Kawanishi (Japan, 1959–)
 * Nobuhiro Kawasato (Japan)
 * James Edward Keeler (United States, 1857–1900)
 * Paul Kempf (Germany, 1856–1920)
 * Johannes Kepler (Germany, 1571–1630)
 * Omar Khayyám (Persia, 1048–1131)
 * Al-Khujandi (Persia, 10th century)
 * Muhammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī, (Persia, 780–850)
 * Kidinnu (Babylon, 4th century BC; d. 330 BC?)
 * Hisashi Kimura (Japan, 1870–1943)
 * Maria Margarethe Kirch (Germany, 1670–1720)
 * Daniel Kirkwood (United States, 1814–1895)
 * Robert Kirshner (United States, 1949–)
 * Minoru Kizawa (Japan, 1947–)
 * Ernst Friedrich Wilhelm Klinkerfues (Germany, 1827–1884)
 * Viktor Knorre (Russia, 1840–1919)
 * Takao Kobayashi (Japan, 1961–)
 * Toru Kobayashi (Japan)
 * Luboš Kohoutek (1935–)
 * Masahiro Koishikawa (Japan, 1952–2020)
 * Nobuhisa Kojima (Japan, 1933–)
 * Takuo Kojima (Japan, 1955–)
 * Yoji Kondo (Japan, 1933–2017)
 * Zdeněk Kopal (Czechoslovakia, United Kingdom, United States, 1914–1993)
 * August Kopff (Germany, 1882–1960)
 * Korado Korlević (Croatia, 1958–)
 * Hiroki Kosai (Japan, 1933–)
 * Charles T. Kowal (United States, 1940–2011)
 * Robert Kraft (United States, 1927–2015)
 * Ľubor Kresák (Czechoslovakia, 1927–1994)
 * Heinrich Kreutz (Germany, 1854–1927)
 * Kazuo Kubokawa (Japan, 1903–1943)
 * Marc Kuchner (United States, 1972–)
 * Gerard Kuiper (Netherlands, United States, 1905–1973)
 * Donald Kurtz (1948–)
 * Reiki Kushida (Japan)
 * Yoshio Kushida (Japan, 1957–)
 * György Kulin (Austria-Hungary, 1905–1989)

L

 * Lagadha (India, 1st millennium BCE)
 * Nicolas Louis de Lacaille (France, 1713–1762)
 * Claes-Ingvar Lagerkvist (Sweden, 1944–)
 * Joseph-Louis Lagrange (France, 1736–1813)
 * Jérôme Lalande (France, 1732–1807)
 * Johann Heinrich Lambert (France, Germany, 1728–1777)
 * David J. Lane (Canada, 1983–)
 * Andrew E. Lange (United States, 1957–2010)
 * Samuel Pierpont Langley (United States, 1834–1906)
 * Pierre-Simon Laplace (France, 1749–1827)
 * Jacques Laskar (France, 1955–)
 * William Lassell (United Kingdom, 1799–1880)
 * Joseph Jean Pierre Laurent (France, fl. 1858)
 * Henrietta Swan Leavitt (United States, 1868–1921)
 * Typhoon Lee (United States and Taiwan, 1948–)
 * Guillaume Le Gentil (France, 1725–1792)
 * Georges Lemaître (Belgium, 1894–1966)
 * Pierre Lemonnier (France, 1715–1799)
 * Frederick C. Leonard (United States, 1896–1960)


 * Armin Leuschner (US, 1868–1953)
 * Geraint Lewis (Australia, 1969–)
 * Urbain Le Verrier (France, 1811–1877)
 * Li Fan (China, fl. 1st century AD)
 * James Lind (UK, 1736–1812)
 * Bertil Lindblad (Sweden, 1895–1965)
 * Adolph Friedrich Lindemann (Germany/UK, 1846–1927)
 * Chris Lintott (United Kingdom, 1980–)
 * Joseph Johann Littrow (Austria, 1781–1840)
 * Karl L. Littrow (Austria, 1811–1877)
 * Liu Xin (China, fl. 1st century AD)
 * Joseph Lockyer (United Kingdom, 1836–1920)
 * Avi Loeb (Israel, USA 1962–)
 * Maurice Loewy (Austria/France, 1833–1907)
 * Christian Sørensen Longomontanus (Denmark, 1562–1647)
 * Percival Lowell (United States, 1855–1916)
 * Ángel López (Spain, 1955–)
 * Álvaro López-García (Spain, 1941–2019)
 * John William Lubbock (United Kingdom, 1803–1865)
 * Knut Lundmark (Sweden, 1889–1958)
 * Robert Luther (Germany, 1822–1900)
 * Lupitus of Barcelona (Spain)
 * Jane Luu (South Vietnam, United States 1965–)
 * Willem Luyten (Dutch East Indies, Netherlands, 1899–1994)
 * Donald Lynden-Bell (United Kingdom, 1935–2018)
 * Andrew Lyne (UK, 1942–)
 * Bernard Lyot (France, 1897–1952)

M

 * Mahendra Suri (India, 14th century CE)
 * Ma Yize (China, 910–1005)
 * Adriaan van Maanen (United States, 1884–1946)
 * George Parker, 2nd Earl of Macclesfield (United Kingdom, c. 1697–1764)
 * Johann Heinrich von Mädler (Germany, 1794-1874)
 * Amy Mainzer (United States, 1974–)
 * Steve Mandel (United States)
 * Geoff Marcy (United States, 1954–)
 * Simon Marius (Germany, 1573–1624)
 * Brian G. Marsden (United States, 1937–2010)
 * Albert Marth (Germany, 1828–1897)
 * Nevil Maskelyne (United Kingdom, 1732–1811)
 * Charles Mason (United Kingdom, United States, 1730–1787)
 * John C. Mather (United States, 1946–)
 * Janet Akyüz Mattei (Turkey/United States, 1943–2004)
 * Edward Walter Maunder (United Kingdom, 1851–1928)
 * Pierre Louis Maupertuis (France, 1698–1759)
 * Alain Maury (France, 1958–)
 * Antonia Maury (United States, 1866–1952)
 * Matthew Fontaine Maury (United States, 1806–1873)
 * Brian May (United Kingdom, 1947–)
 * Cornell Mayer (United States, 1922–2005)
 * Tobias Mayer (Germany, 1723–1762)
 * Michel Mayor (Switzerland, 1942–)
 * Christopher McKee (United States, 1942–)
 * Robert S. McMillan (United States)
 * William H. McCrea (United Kingdom, 1904–1999)
 * Bruce A. McIntosh (Canada, 1929–2015)
 * Robert H. McNaught (Australia, 1956–)
 * Pierre Méchain (France, 1744–1804)
 * Thebe Medupe (South Africa, 1973–)
 * Karen Jean Meech (United States, 1956–)
 * Aden Baker Meinel (United States, 1922–2011)
 * Marjorie Pettit Meinel (United States, 1922–2008)
 * Fulvio Melia (United States, 1956–)
 * Philibert Jacques Melotte (United Kingdom, 1880–1961)
 * Paul Willard Merrill (United States, 1887–1961)
 * David Merritt (United States)
 * Charles Messier (France, 1730–1817)
 * Joel Hastings Metcalf (United States, 1866–1925)
 * Andreas Gerasimos Michalitsianos (United States, 1947–1997)
 * John Michell (United Kingdom, 1724–1793)
 * Elia Millosevich (Italy, 1848–1919)
 * Edward Arthur Milne (United Kingdom, 1896–1950)
 * Rudolph Minkowski (Germany, 1895–1976)
 * Marcel Gilles Jozef Minnaert (Belgium, Netherlands, 1893–1970)
 * Maria Mitchell (United States, 1818–1889)
 * Seidai Miyasaka (Japan, 1955–)
 * Yoshikane Mizuno (Japan, 1954–)
 * August Ferdinand Möbius (Germany, 1790–1868)
 * Anthony Moffat (Canada)
 * Johan Maurits Mohr (Netherlands, 1716–1775)
 * Samuel Molyneux (United Kingdom, 1689–1728)
 * Geminiano Montanari (Italy, 1633–1687)
 * Patrick Moore (United Kingdom, 1923–2012)
 * James Michael Moran (United States, 1943–)
 * William Wilson Morgan (United States, 1906–1994)
 * Hiroshi Mori (Japan, 1958–)
 * Amédée Mouchez (France, 1821–1892)
 * Antonín Mrkos (Czechoslovakia, 1918–1996)
 * Jean Mueller (United States, 1950–)
 * Masaru Mukai (Japan, 1949–)
 * Christiaan Alexander Muller (Netherlands, 1923-2004)
 * Gustav Müller (Germany, 1851–1925)
 * Johannes Müller (Germany, 1436–1476)
 * Harutaro Murakami (Japan, 1872–1947)
 * Osamu Muramatsu (Japan, 1949–)
 * bin Musa, Ahmad (Persia, 805–873)
 * bin Musa, Hasan (Persia, 810–873)
 * bin Musa, Muhammad (Persia, (800–873)
 * Nils Mustelin (Finland, 1931–2004)

N

 * Nilakantha Somayaji (India, 1444–1544)
 * Valentin Naboth (Germany, Italy, 1523–1593)
 * Naburimannu (Babylonia, sometime between 6th century BC and 2nd century BC)
 * Takeshi Nagata (Japan, 1913–1991)
 * Ahmad Nahavandi (Persia, 7th–8th century)
 * Akimasa Nakamura (Japan, 1961–)
 * Syuichi Nakano (Japan, 1947–)
 * Jayant Narlikar (India, 1938–)
 * Naubakht (Persia, d. 776)
 * Al-fadl ibn Naubakht (Persia, 8th century)
 * Otto Neugebauer (Germany, United States, 1899–1990)
 * Grigoriy Nikolaevich Neujmin (Russia, 1886–1946)
 * Simon Newcomb (United States, 1835–1909)
 * Isaac Newton (United Kingdom, 1643–1727)
 * Seth Barnes Nicholson (United States, 1891–1963)
 * Albertus Antonie Nijland (Netherlands, 1868–1936)
 * Tsuneo Niijima (Japan, 1955–)
 * Peter Nilson (Sweden, 1937–1998)
 * Hōei Nojiri (Japan, 1885–1977)
 * Jaime Nomen (Spain, 1960–)
 * Toshiro Nomura (Japan, 1954–)

O

 * Knut Jørgen Røed Ødegaard (Norway, 1966–)
 * Okuro Oikawa (Japan, 1896–1970)
 * Tarmo Oja (Sweden, 1934–)
 * Tomimaru Okuni (Japan, 1931–)
 * Nicolaus Olahus (Hungarian, 1493–1568)
 * Heinrich Wilhelm Matthias Olbers (Germany, 1758–1840)
 * Gerard O'Neill (United States, 1927–1992)
 * Jan Hendrik Oort (Netherlands, 1900–1992)
 * Pieter Oosterhoff (Netherlands, 1904–1978)
 * Ernst Öpik (Estonia, Ireland, 1893–1985)
 * José Luis Ortiz Moreno (Spain, 1967–)
 * Yoshiaki Oshima (Japan, 1952–)
 * Donald Edward Osterbrock, United States, 1924–2007)
 * Liisi Oterma (Finland, 1915–2001)
 * Satoru Otomo (Japan, 1957–)
 * Jean Abraham Chrétien Oudemans (Netherlands, 1827–1906)

P

 * Rafael Pacheco (Spain, 1954–)
 * Bohdan Paczyński (Poland, 1940–2007)
 * Ľudmila Pajdušáková (Czechoslovakia, 1916–1979)
 * Johann Palisa (Austria, 1848–1925)
 * Johann Palitzsch (Germany, 1723–1788)
 * Anton Pannekoek (Netherlands, 1873–1960)
 * Eugene Parker (United States, 1927–2022)
 * George Parker, 2nd Earl of Macclesfield (United Kingdom, c. 1697–1764)
 * William Parsons, Lord Rosse (Ireland, 1800–1867)
 * André Patry (France, 1902–1960)
 * Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin (United Kingdom, United States, 1900–1979)
 * Ruby Payne-Scott (Australia, 1912–1981)
 * Jean-Claude Pecker (France, 1923–2020)
 * James Peebles (Canada, United States, 1935–)
 * Sir Cuthbert Peek, 2nd Baronet (UK, 1855–1901)
 * Manuel Peimbert (Mexico, 1941–)
 * Leslie Copus Peltier (United States, 1900–1980)
 * Roger Penrose (United Kingdom, 1931–)
 * Arno Penzias (United States, Germany, 1933–2024)
 * Luboš Perek (Czech Republic, 1919–2020)
 * Saul Perlmutter (United States, 1959–)
 * Charles Dillon Perrine (United States, Argentina, 1867–1951)
 * Henri Joseph Anastase Perrotin (France, 1845–1904)
 * Christian Heinrich Friedrich Peters (Germany, United States, 1813–1890)
 * George Henry Peters (United States, 1863–1947)
 * Mark M. Phillips (United States, 1951–)
 * Giuseppe Piazzi (Italy, 1746–1826)
 * Edward Charles Pickering (United States, 1846–1919)
 * William Henry Pickering (United States, 1858–1938)
 * Phil Plait (United States, 1964–)
 * Giovanni Antonio Amedeo Plana (Italy, 1781–1864)
 * Petrus Plancius (Netherlands, 1552–1622)
 * John Stanley Plaskett (Canada, 1865–1941)
 * Norman Robert Pogson (United Kingdom, 1829–1891)
 * Christian Pollas (France, 1947–)
 * John Pond (England, 1767–1836)
 * Jean-Louis Pons (France, 1761–1831)
 * Carolyn Porco (United States, 1953–)
 * Vladimír Porubčan (Czechoslovakia, 1940–)
 * Charles Pritchard (United Kingdom, 1808–1893)
 * Richard Proctor (England, 1837–1888)
 * Milorad B. Protić (Serbia, 1911– 2001)
 * Antoni Przybylski (Poland, Australia, 1913–1985)
 * Ptolemy of Alexandria (Roman Egypt, c. 85–165)
 * Pierre Puiseux (France, 1855–1928)
 * Georg Purbach (Germany, 1423–1461)
 * Pythagoras of Samos (Greece, 580 BC–500 BC)
 * Paris Pişmiş (Armenia/Mexico, 1911–1999)

Q

 * Adolphe Quetelet (Belgium, 1796–1874)
 * Ali Qushji (Ottoman, 1403–1474)
 * M. Shahid Qureshi (Pakistan)

R

 * David Lincoln Rabinowitz (United States, 1960–)
 * Grote Reber (United States, 1911–2002)
 * Martin Rees (United Kingdom, 1942–)
 * Hubert Reeves (Canada, 1932–)
 * Regiomontanus (Johannes Müller) (Germany, 1436–1476)
 * Julius Reichelt (Germany, 1637–1717)
 * Erasmus Reinhold (Prussia, Germany, 1511–1553)
 * Karl Reinmuth (Germany, 1892–1979)
 * Pieter Johannes van Rhijn (Netherlands, 1886–1960)
 * Giovanni Battista Riccioli (Italy, 1598–1671)
 * Mercedes Richards (Jamaica, 1955–2016)
 * Jean Richer (France, 1630–1696)
 * Edward Riddle (England, 1788–1854)
 * Adam Riess (United States, 1969–)
 * Fernand Rigaux (Belgium, 1905–1962)
 * George Willis Ritchey (United States, 1864–1945)
 * David Rittenhouse (United States, 1732–1796)
 * Hans-Walter Rix (Germany, 1964–)
 * Arjen Roelofs (Netherlands, 1754–1824)
 * Nancy G. Roman (United States, 1925–2018)
 * Elizabeth Roemer (United States, 1929–2016)
 * Gustavo E. Romero (Argentina, (1964–)
 * Roger of Hereford (England, c. 1176–1198)
 * Ole Christensen Rømer (Denmark, 1644–1710)
 * Otto A. Rosenberger (Germany, 1800–1890)
 * Svein Rosseland (Norway, 1894–1985)
 * Bruno Rossi (Italy, 1905–1993)
 * Marta Graciela Rovira (Argentina)
 * Vera Rubin (United States, 1928–2016)
 * Henry Chamberlain Russell (Australia, 1836–1907)
 * Henry Norris Russell (United States, 1877–1957)
 * Martin Ryle (United Kingdom, 1918–1984)

S

 * Sir Edward Sabine (Ireland, 1788–1883)
 * Carl Sagan (United States, 1934–1996)
 * Megh Nad Saha (India, 1893–1956)
 * Edwin Ernest Salpeter (Austria, Australia, United States, 1924–2008)
 * Allan Rex Sandage (United States, 1926–2010)
 * Hendricus Gerardus van de Sande Bakhuyzen (Netherlands, 1838–1923)
 * Wallace Leslie William Sargent (United Kingdom, United States, 1935–2012)
 * Anneila Sargent (United Kingdom, United States, 1942–)
 * Naoto Sato (Japan, 1953–)
 * Alexandre Schaumasse (France, 1882–1958)
 * Giovanni Schiaparelli (Italy, 1835–1910)
 * Frank Schlesinger (United States, 1871–1943)
 * Bernhard Schmidt (Estonia, Sweden, Germany, 1879–1935)
 * Brian P. Schmidt (United States, 1967–)
 * Maarten Schmidt (Netherlands, 1929–)
 * Robert Schommer (United States, 1946–2001)
 * Johann Hieronymus Schröter (Germany, 1745–1816)
 * Lipót Schulhof (Hungary, 1847–1921)
 * Heinrich Christian Schumacher (Germany, 1780–1850)
 * Hans-Emil Schuster (Germany, 1934–)
 * Samuel Heinrich Schwabe (Germany, 1789–1875)
 * Karl Schwarzschild (Germany, 1873–1916)
 * Martin Schwarzschild (Germany, United States, 1912–1997)
 * Friedrich Karl Arnold Schwassmann (Germany, 1870–1964)
 * James Vernon Scotti (United States, 1960–)
 * Frederick Hanley Seares (United States, 1873–1964)
 * George Mary Searle (United States, 1839–1918)
 * Angelo Secchi (Italy, 1818–1878)
 * Sadao Sei (Japan)
 * Waltraut Seitter (Germany, 1930–2007)
 * Tsutomu Seki (Japan, 1930–)
 * Carl Keenan Seyfert (United States, 1911–1960)
 * Grigory Abramovich Shajn (Russia, 1892–1956)
 * Pelageya Fedorovna Shajn (Russia, 1894–1956)
 * Harlow Shapley (United States, 1885–1972)
 * Richard Sheepshanks (United Kingdom, 1794–1855)
 * Shen Kuo (China, 1031–1035)
 * Shi Shen (China, fl. 4th century BC)
 * Shibukawa Shunkai (Japan, 1639–1715)
 * Yoshisada Shimizu (Japan, 1943–)
 * Shinzo Shinjo (Japan, 1873–1938)
 * Qutb eddin Shirazi (Persia, 1236–1311)
 * Iosif Samuilovich Shklovsky (Russia, 1916–1985)
 * Vladimir Shkodrov (Bulgaria, 1930–2010)
 * Carolyn Jean Spellmann Shoemaker (United States, 1929–2021)
 * Eugene Merle Shoemaker (United States, 1928–1997)
 * Seth Shostak (United States, 1943–)
 * Andrew Siemion (United States, 1980–)
 * Willem de Sitter (Netherlands, 1872–1934)
 * Charlotte Moore Sitterly (United States, 1898–1990)
 * Brian A. Skiff (United States)
 * John Francis Skjellerup (Australia, South Africa, 1875–1952)
 * Vesto Melvin Slipher (United States, 1875–1969)
 * William Marshall Smart (United Kingdom, 1889–1975)
 * Tamara Mikhaylovna Smirnova (Russia, 1935–2001)
 * George Smoot (United States, 1945–)
 * William Henry Smyth (United Kingdom, 1788–1865)
 * Willebrord Snellius (Netherlands, 1580–1626)
 * Mary Fairfax Somerville (United Kingdom, 1780–1872)
 * Sir James South (United Kingdom, 1785–1867)
 * Sir Harold Spencer Jones (United Kingdom, 1890–1960)
 * Lyman Spitzer (United States, 1914–1997)
 * Friederich Wilhelm Gustav Spörer (Germany, 1822–1895)
 * Rainer Spurzem (Germany, 1956–)
 * Anton Staus (Germany, 1872–1955)
 * Joel Stebbins (United States, 1878–1966)
 * Johan Stein (Netherlands, 1871–1951)
 * Karl August von Steinheil, (Germany, 1801–1870)
 * Édouard Stephan (France, 1837–1923)
 * Denise Stephens (United States)
 * Charles Bruce Stephenson (United States, 1929–2001))
 * David J. Stevenson (New Zealand, 1948–)
 * Edward James Stone (1831–1897)
 * F. J. M. Stratton (United Kingdom, 1881–1960)
 * Bengt Georg Daniel Strömgren (Denmark, 1908–1987)
 * Friedrich Georg Wilhelm (von) Struve (Germany, Russia, 1793–1864)
 * Karl Hermann Struve (Russia, Germany, 1854–1920)
 * Gustav Wilhelm Ludwig Struve (Russia, 1858–1920)
 * Otto Struve (Russia, United States, 1897–1963)
 * Otto Wilhelm (von) Struve (Russia, 1819–1905)
 * Su Song (China, 1020–1101)
 * Abd Al-Rahman Al Sufi (Persia, 903–986)
 * Matsuo Sugano (Japan, 1939–)
 * Atsushi Sugie (Japan)
 * Nicholas Suntzeff (United States, 1952–)
 * Rashid Alievich Sunyaev (Uzbekistan Russia Germany, 1943–)
 * Shohei Suzuki (Japan)
 * Lewis A. Swift (United States, 1820–1913)
 * Frédéric Sy (France)

T

 * Akihiko Tago (Japan, 1932–)
 * Atsushi Takahashi (Japan, 1965–)
 * Kesao Takamizawa (Japan, 1952–)
 * Jill Tarter (United States, 1944–)
 * Joseph Hooton Taylor Jr. (United States, 1941–)
 * John Tebbutt (Australia, 1834–1916)
 * Ernst Wilhelm Leberecht Tempel (Germany, 1821–1889)
 * Thabit ibn Qurra (Iraq, 826–901)
 * Thorvald Nicolai Thiele (Denmark, 1838–1910)
 * Louis Thollon (France, 1829–1887)
 * Norman G. Thomas (United States, 1930–2020)
 * John Thome (United States, Argentina, 1843–1908)
 * Kip Stephen Thorne (United States, 1940–)
 * Friedrich Tietjen (Germany, 1834–1895)
 * Beatrice Muriel Hill Tinsley (New Zealand, United States, 1941–1981)
 * François Félix Tisserand (France, 1845–1896)
 * Johann Daniel Titius (Germany, 1729–1796)
 * Yasuo Tanaka (Japan, 1931–2018)
 * Clyde Tombaugh (United States, 1906–1997)
 * Kōichirō Tomita (Japan, 1925–2006)
 * Richard Tousey (United States, 1908–1997)
 * Charles Townes (United States, 1915–2015)
 * Virginia Trimble (United States, 1943–)
 * Chad Trujillo (United States, 1973–)
 * Robert Julius Trumpler (United States, 1886–1956)
 * R. Brent Tully (United States, 1943–)
 * Herbert Hall Turner (England, 1861–1930)
 * Nasir al-Din Tusi (Persia, 1201–1274)
 * Horace Parnell Tuttle (United States, 1839–1923)
 * Neil deGrasse Tyson (United States, 1958–)

U

 * Seiji Ueda (Japan, 1952–)
 * Ulugh Beg (Uzbekistan, 1394–1449)
 * Antonio de Ulloa (Spain), 1716–1795)
 * Anne Barbara Underhill (Canada, 1920–2003)
 * Albrecht Unsöld (Germany, 1905–1995)
 * Takeshi Urata (Japan, 1947–2012)
 * Mu’ayyad al-Din al-’Urdi (Persia d. 1266)
 * Fumiaki Uto (Japan)

V

 * Yrjö Väisälä (Finland, 1891–1971)
 * Benjamin Valz (France, 1787–1867)
 * James Van Allen (United States, 1914–2006)
 * George Van Biesbroeck (Belgium, United States, 1880–1974)
 * Hendrik Christoffel van de Hulst (Netherlands, 1918–2000)
 * Peter van de Kamp (United States, 1901–1995)
 * Sidney van den Bergh (Canada, 1929–)
 * Martin van den Hove (Netherlands, 1605–1639)
 * Hendricus Gerardus van de Sande Bakhuyzen (Netherlands, 1838–1923)
 * Hendrik van Gent (Netherlands, South Africa, 1900–1947)
 * Cornelis Johannes van Houten (Netherlands, 1920–2002)
 * Pieter Johannes van Rhijn (Netherlands, 1886–1960)
 * Gérard de Vaucouleurs (France, United States, 1918–1995)
 * Zdeňka Vávrová (Czechoslovakia, 1945–)
 * Jean-Pierre Verdet (France, 1932–)
 * Philippe Véron (France, 1939–2014)
 * Frank Washington Very (United States, 1852–1927)
 * Yvon Villarceau (France, 1813–1883)
 * Julie Vinter Hansen (Denmark), 1890–1960)
 * Hermann Carl Vogel (Germany, 1841–1907)
 * Friedrich Georg Wilhelm von Struve (Germany, Russia, 1793–1864)
 * Otto Wilhelm von Struve (Russia, 1819–1905)
 * Alexander N. Vyssotsky (Russia/United States, 1888–1973)
 * Emma Vyssotsky (United States, 1894–1975)

W

 * Arno Arthur Wachmann (Germany, 1902–1990)
 * Abul Wáfa (Persia, 940–997/998)
 * Walcher of Malvern (England d. 1135)
 * George Wallerstein (1930–2021)
 * William Wales (United Kingdom, c. 1734–1798)
 * Dennis Walsh (United Kingdom, 1933–2005)
 * Qingde Wang (United States/China)
 * Brian Warner (astronomer) (United Kingdom, 1939–)
 * Brian D. Warner (United States, 1952–)
 * Kazuro Watanabe (Japan, 1955–)
 * James Craig Watson (United States, 1838–1880)
 * Edmund Weaver (United Kingdom, 1663–1748)
 * Kim Weaver (United States, 1969–)
 * Thomas William Webb (United Kingdom, 1807–1885)
 * Rachel Webster (Australia, 1951–)
 * Alfred Lothar Wegener (Germany, 1880–1930)
 * Gary A. Wegner (United States, 1944–)
 * Wei Pu (China, 960–1279)
 * Karl von Weizsäcker (Germany, 1912–2007)
 * Godefroy Wendelin (Belgium, 1580–1667)
 * Richard M. West (Denmark, 1941–)
 * Gart Westerhout (Netherlands, United States, 1927–2012)
 * Bengt Westerlund (Sweden, 1921–2008)
 * J. G. Westphal (Germany, 1824–1859)
 * Johann Heinrich Westphal (Germany, Italy, 1794–1831)
 * George Wetherill (1925–2006)
 * John Archibald Wheeler (United States, 1911–2008)
 * Fred Lawrence Whipple (United States, 1906–2004)
 * Albert Whitford (United States, 1905–2002)
 * Mary Watson Whitney (United States, 1847–1921)
 * Chandra Wickramasinghe (United Kingdom, 1939–)
 * Paul Wild (Switzerland, 1925–2014)
 * Olin C. Wilson (United States, 1909–1994)
 * Ida E. Woods (United States, 1870–1940)
 * Robert Wilson (United States, 1936–)
 * Rogier Windhorst (United States, 1955–)
 * Vincent Wing (UK, 1619–1668)
 * Anna Winlock (United States, 1857–1904)
 * Henry "Trae" Winter (United States, 1972)
 * John Winthrop (Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1714–1779)
 * Friedrich August Theodor Winnecke (Germany, 1835–1897)
 * Carl Wirtanen (United States, 1910–1990)
 * Jack Wisdom (United States, 1953–)
 * Gustav Witt (Germany, 1866–1946)
 * Maximilian Wolf (Germany, 1863–1932)
 * Aleksander Wolszczan (Poland, 1946–)
 * Edith Jones Woodward (United States), (1914–2002)
 * Richard van der Riet Woolley (United Kingdom, 1906–1986)
 * Frances Woodworth Wright (United States, 1897–1989)
 * Thomas Wright (United Kingdom, 1711–1786)
 * Gillian Wright (United Kingdom)

Y

 * Issei Yamamoto (Japan, 1889–1959)
 * Masayuki Yanai (Japan, 1959–)
 * Yi Xing (China, 683–727)
 * Anne Sewell Young (United States, 1871–1961)
 * Charles Augustus Young (United States, 1834–1908)
 * James Whitney Young (United States, 1941–)
 * Judith Young (United States, 1952–2014)

Z

 * Franz Xaver von Zach (Germany, 1753–1832)
 * Abraham Zacuto (Spain/Portugal, 1450–1510)
 * John Zarnecki (UK, 1949–)
 * Yakov Borisovich Zel'dovich (USSR, 1914–1987)
 * Zhang Daqing (China, 1969–)
 * Zhang Heng (China, 78–139)
 * Zhang Yuzhe (China, 1902–1986)
 * Lyudmila Vasil'evna Zhuravleva (Russia/Ukraine, 1946–)
 * Felix Ziegel (Soviet Union, 1920–1988)
 * Zu Chongzhi (China, 429–500)
 * Fritz Zwicky (Switzerland, United States, 1898–1974)

Others who influenced astronomy and astrophysics
The following is a list of people who are not astronomers but made a contribution to the field of astronomy and astrophysics.
 * Hans Bethe (1906–2005), (physicist)
 * Niels Bohr (1885–1962), (physicist)
 * Andreas Cellarius (Netherlands, Germany, 1596–1665), (cartographer)
 * Freeman Dyson (1923–2020), (physicist)
 * Albert Einstein (1879–1955), (physicist)
 * Karl Guthe Jansky (United States, 1905–1950), (radio astronomer)
 * James Clerk Maxwell (United Kingdom, 1831–1879), (physicist)
 * Thomas Young (United Kingdom, 1773–1829), (physicist)
 * Abdus Salam (1926–1996), (physicist)
 * Riazuddin (1936–2013), (physicist)

General sources

 * Astronomical Society of the Pacific: Women in Astronomy
 * The Oldest Living Astronomers in India honored by World Records India