In July 1995, Michel Mayor and his doctoral student Didier Queloz identified 51 Pegasi b, the first extrasolar planet confirmed to orbit a main-sequence, sun-like star. This discovery shifted the trajectory of modern astrophysics, transforming the search for planets outside our solar system from a theoretical challenge into an active, productive field of observational science.
Academic Foundation and Career
Born in Lausanne in 1942, Mayor pursued his education in Switzerland, earning an MS in Physics from the University of Lausanne in 1966 before completing his PhD in Astronomy at the Geneva Observatory in 1971. His early research career included a tenure at the Institute of Astronomy at the University of Cambridge. Throughout his career, he remained anchored at the Observatory of Geneva, where he served as a research associate starting in 1971, became an associate professor in 1984, and attained the rank of full professor in 1988. He also held the position of director of the Observatory of Geneva from 1998 to 2004.
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Much of Mayor's research focused on the development of specialized instrumentation to improve measurement accuracy. He collaborated with André Baranne at the Marseille Observatory to develop CORAVEL, a photoelectric spectrometer designed for precise radial velocity measurements. This work provided the technical foundation for later breakthroughs. In the 1990s, Mayor and Didier Queloz developed ELODIE, an upgraded spectrograph capable of 15 m/s accuracy, which allowed them to differentiate between brown dwarfs and giant planets. He continued this technical advancement by leading the team that developed the High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS), installed at the La Silla Observatory in Chile in 2003, which improved sensitivity to 1 m/s.
Recognition and Legacy
The discovery of 51 Pegasi b earned Mayor the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics, shared with Jim Peebles and Didier Queloz. His contributions to science have been recognized globally, including the 2000 Balzan Prize, the 2004 Albert Einstein Medal, and the 2015 Kyoto Prize. He is a member of several prestigious scientific bodies, including the French Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences. Although he formally retired in 2007, Mayor remains active as a researcher at the Observatory of Geneva, continuing his investigation into extrasolar planets and galactic structure.
Fast facts
- Born: 1942, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Education: University of Lausanne (MS), University of Geneva (PhD)
- Significant Discovery: 51 Pegasi b (1995)
- Positions Held: Director of Observatory of Geneva (1998-2004)
- Nobel Prize: 2019 Physics co-laureate
- Awards: Wolf Prize (2017), Shaw Prize (2005), Balzan Prize (2000)
- Affiliations: International Astronomical Union, French Academy of Sciences
Questions readers ask
Did Michel Mayor discover the first exoplanet ever?
He discovered the first exoplanet orbiting a main-sequence, sun-like star in 1995.
Is Michel Mayor still active in research?
Yes, although he retired from his professorship in 2007, he remains active as a researcher at the Observatory of Geneva.
Achievements
- Nobel Prize in Physics — 2019
- Legion of Honour
- Knight of the Legion of Honour — 2004
- Balzan Prize — 2000
- Wolf Prize in Physics — 2017
- Kyoto Prize in Basic Sciences — 2015
- Held posts at Observatory of Geneva and University of Geneva
- Educated at University of Geneva and University of Lausanne
- Fields of research: astrophysics
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