Editing David Malin

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2011}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=January 2010}}
{{Infobox person
| name          = David Malin
| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|AM}}
| image         = David Malin looking at poster.jpeg
| alt           = 
| caption       = David Malin looking at a poster about [[Malin 1]], a galaxy found by him
| birth_name    = 
| birth_date    = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1941|03|28}}
| birth_place   = [[Bury, Greater Manchester|Bury]], Lancashire, England
| death_date    = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth date) -->
| death_place   = 
| nationality   = British
| citizenship   = Australian
| other_names   = 
| occupation    = Astronomer
| years_active  = 
| known_for     = 
| notable_works = 
}}
[[Image:Horsehead nebula.jpg|thumb|250px|Three-colour photograph of the Horsehead Nebula taken by David Malin at the AAO]]

'''David Frederick Malin ''' {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}} (born 28 March 1941) is a British-Australian astronomer and photographer.  He is principally known for his spectacular colour images of astronomical objects.  A galaxy is named after him, [[Malin 1]], which he discovered in 1986 and which is the largest [[spiral galaxy]] so far discovered.

==Career==
Malin was born in 1941 and raised in [[Heywood, Greater Manchester]], in the north of England. He was trained as a chemist and originally worked as a [[microscopy|microscopist]]. In 1975 he moved to [[Sydney]] to take up a job with the Anglo-Australian Observatory (AAO), now the [[Australian Astronomical Observatory]].

Whilst working at the AAO, Malin developed several [[photography|photographic]] processing techniques to maximise the ability to extract faint and low contrast detail from the non-linear response and high densities of [[photographic plate]]s.

These techniques were initially devised to enhance the scientific return from photography, but Malin is now best known for the series of three-colour wide field images of deep space objects which have been widely published as posters and in books around the world. Most professional astronomical photographs are [[monochrome|monochromatic]]; if colour pictures are required, three images are needed. During his career at the AAO, Malin made about 150 three-colour images of [[deep sky object]]s, mostly using plates taken with the {{convert|4|m|in|adj=on}} [[Anglo-Australian Telescope]] and the {{convert|1.2|m|in|adj=on}} [[UK Schmidt Telescope]].

The true-colour images are assembled from three separate monochromatic photographs taken through [[red]], [[green]] and [[blue]] [[photographic filter|filter]]s. Each photographic plate is a special [[black and white]] [[photographic emulsion|emulsion]] designed for low light conditions and is further enhanced for low light sensitivity by baking in a [[nitrogen]] and [[hydrogen]] atmosphere. The [[exposure time]]s are relatively long, varying between 5–60 minutes for each colour, depending on the [[luminosity]] of the object. The colour image is re-assembled in the [[darkroom]], where further techniques such as [[unsharp masking]] to enhance fine detail might also be applied.

In 1986 he discovered [[Malin 1]], a giant [[spiral galaxy]] located {{convert|366|Mpc|e9ly|lk=on|order=flip}} away in the constellation [[Coma Berenices]], near the North Galactic Pole.<ref name=SciAm-1997-02>{{cite journal |title=The Ghostliest Galaxies |journal=[[Scientific American]] |first=G. D. |last=Bothun |volume=276 |issue=2 |pages=40–45 |date=February 1997 |doi=10.1038/scientificamerican0297-56 |bibcode=1997SciAm.276b..40B}}</ref> {{As of|2015|02}} it is the largest [[spiral galaxy]] so far discovered, with an approximate diameter of {{convert|650000|ly|pc}}.<ref name=Crosswell-2007-01-22>{{cite web |url=http://kencroswell.com/Malin1.html |title=Malin 1: A Bizarre Galaxy Gets Slightly Less So |work=KenCroswell.com |first=Ken |last=Crosswell |date=22 January 2007}}</ref><ref name="forbes20131222">{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucedorminey/2013/12/22/astronomers-still-puzzle-over-low-surface-brightness-galaxies/ |title=Astronomers Still Puzzle Over 'Low Surface Brightness' Galaxies |work=[[Forbes]] |first=Bruce |last=Dorminey |date=22 December 2013 |accessdate=30 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="Guiness2011">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GJ-Lts1QgrkC&pg=PA3 |title=Guinness World Records 2011 |publisher=[[Random House]] |location=New York |editor-first=Craig |editor-last=Glenday |page=3 |date=2011 |isbn=978-0-440-42310-2}}</ref>

Since the early 1990s, silver-based [[astrophotography]] has been largely superseded by digital sensors, but many of the technical advances Malin introduced to the field have been carried over to processing astrophotography on computers.

Malin has published over 250 academic papers on the Astrophysics Data System (ADS)<ref>{{cite web|title=SAO/NASA ADS Abstract Service|url=http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-basic_connect|website=adsabs.harvard.edu|publisher=[[Astrophysics Data System]] |accessdate=13 October 2016|location=Search for "Malin D.F."}}</ref> and ten books.<ref>{{cite web|title=Google Books search for author 'David Malin'|url=https://www.google.com/search?q=inauthor:"David+Malin"|accessdate=13 October 2016}}</ref>

In 2001 he retired from the AAO to concentrate on his own business, David Malin Images, which manages his image collection along with those of related photographers.

==Awards==
* 1985: Henri Chrétien Award of the [[American Astronomical Society]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Chrétien International Research Grants|url=https://aas.org/grants-and-prizes/chr%C3%A9tien-international-research-grants|website=aas.org|publisher=[[American Astronomical Society]]|accessdate=13 October 2016}}</ref>
* 1986: [[Jackson-Gwilt Medal]], [[Royal Astronomical Society]]
* 1990: Rodman Medal of the [[Royal Photographic Society]]
* 1993: Progress Medal, highest award of the [[Photographic Society of America]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Previous Recipients of the Progress Award|url=https://psa-photo.org/index.php?awards/progress-medal/previous-recipients/|website=psa-photo.org|publisher=Photographic Society of America|accessdate=13 October 2016}}</ref>
* 1993: Commonwealth Medal of the [[Australian Photographic Society]]<ref>{{cite web| last1=Fava| first1=Stella| title=Commonwealth Medal: For Advancement of Photographic Technology - Honour Roll| url=http://www.a-p-s.org.au/index.php/members/honours/honour-roll-by-award/549-commonwealth-medal-for-advancement-of-photographic-technology| website=a-p-s.org.au| publisher=Australian Photographic Society| accessdate=13 October 2016}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
* 1994: University of NSW Press/Eureka Science Book Prize (for "''A View of the Universe''")<ref>{{cite web|title=Past Winners & Finalists (Eureka Prizes)|url=http://australianmuseum.net.au/eureka-past|website=australianmuseum.net.au|publisher=[[Australian Museum]]|accessdate=13 October 2016}}</ref>
* 1998: Elected Fellow of the [[International Academy of Astronautics]]
* 2000: [[Lennart Nilsson Award]] for outstanding imaging in science<ref>{{cite web|title=Recipients Archives|url=http://www.lennartnilssonaward.se/category/recipients/|website=lennartnilssonaward.se|publisher=Lennart Nilsson Award Foundation|accessdate=1 October 2016}}</ref>
* 2003: Honorary Doctorate of Applied Science from [[RMIT University]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Honorary Degree Recipients|url=http://www1.rmit.edu.au/browse/Staff%2FWorkplace%20essentials%2FStrategy,%20planning%20and%20governance%2FStrategy%20and%20Governance%2FUniversity%20Secretariat%2FInformation%20and%20Services%2FHonorary%20Titles%2FHonorary%20Degree%20Recipients/|publisher=RMIT University|accessdate=13 October 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816153659/http://www1.rmit.edu.au/browse/Staff%2FWorkplace%20essentials%2FStrategy,%20planning%20and%20governance%2FStrategy%20and%20Governance%2FUniversity%20Secretariat%2FInformation%20and%20Services%2FHonorary%20Titles%2FHonorary%20Degree%20Recipients/|archivedate=16 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=David Malin: Doctor of applied science honoris causa|url=http://www.graduation.rmit.edu.au/citations/davidmalin.doc|publisher=RMIT University|format=Word|accessdate=13 October 2016|archive-date=2 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102222805/http://www.graduation.rmit.edu.au/citations/davidmalin.doc|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 2006: Hubble Award of the Advanced Imaging Conference<ref>{{cite web|title=AIC Hubble Award|url=http://www.aicccd.com/awards/aic_hubble_award.html|website=aicccd.com|publisher=Advanced Imaging Conference|accessdate=13 October 2016}}</ref>
* 2019: Member of the [[Order of Australia]]<ref>https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/2003400 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2022}}</ref>

Minor planet [[4766 Malin]] discovered by [[Eleanor Helin]] is named after him.<ref>{{cite book|title=(4766) Malin In: Dictionary of Minor Planet Names |publisher=Springer |date=2003 |isbn=978-3-540-29925-7 |doi=10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_4672}}</ref>

==Selected publications==
* {{cite book|last1=Malin|first1=David|title=A View of the Universe|date=1993|publisher=Sterling Publishing Company Incorporated|isbn=9780933346666|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i-kaAQAAIAAJ|language=en}}
* {{cite book|last1=Malin|first1=David|title=Night Skies: The Art of Deep Space : an Exhibition of Astronomical Photographs|date=1996|publisher=[[British Council]]|isbn=9780959586541|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UJouAAAACAAJ|language=en}}
* {{cite book|last1=Malin|first1=David|title=The Invisible Universe|date=1999|publisher=[[Little, Brown and Company]]|isbn=9780821226285|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AL57QgAACAAJ|language=en}}
* {{cite book|last1=Malin|first1=David|last2=Roucoux|first2=Katherine|title=Heaven & Earth|date=2007|publisher=Phaidon|location=London|isbn=978-0714847603|edition=Reprinted.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hD5bAAAACAAJ}}
* {{cite book|last1=Gendler|first1=Robert|last2=Christensen|first2=Lars Lindberg|last3=Malin|first3=David|title=Treasures of the Southern Sky|date=2011|publisher=[[Springer Science & Business Media]]|isbn=9781461406280|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fJtp27II6lYC|language=en}}
* {{cite book|last1=Goldsmith|first1=John M.|last2=Malin|first2=David|title=The Universe, Yours to Discover: Celebrating Highlights from the First Five Years of Astronomical Imagery Presented at Astrofest, 2009 - 2014|date=2015|publisher=Celestial Visions|isbn=9780994248961|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RtIUrgEACAAJ|language=en}}
* {{cite book|last1=Malin|first1=David|last2=Frew|first2=David|title=Hartung's Astronomical Objects For Southern Telescopes|date=2016|publisher=[[Melbourne University Publishing]]|isbn=9780522871241|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FTsDDQAAQBAJ|language=en}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* Astronomical Images at the [http://www.aao.gov.au/images/ Anglo-Australian Observatory] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040402000622/http://www.aao.gov.au/images/ |date=2 April 2004 }}
* [http://www.davidmalin.com/ David Malin Images]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090627024704/http://seedmagazine.com/content/article/photographer_to_the_stars "Photographer to the Stars"], interview of Malin at [[Seed magazine]], 28 July 2008
* David Malin biography and gallery at [http://www.twanight.org/newTWAN/photographers_about.asp?photographer=David%20Malin The World at Night]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2XnledoThY "Steve and the stars"], an [[Australian Astronomical Observatory]] video portraying David Malin among others

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Malin, David}}
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century Australian astronomers]]
[[Category:20th-century British astronomers]]
[[Category:20th-century Australian inventors]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of Australia]]
[[Category:British emigrants to Australia]]