Wil Tirion (19 February 1943 – 5 July 2024) was a Dutch uranographer (celestial cartographer). His work, which included star charts and atlases, was widely distributed and renowned by astronomers.[1][2]
Originally a graphic designer, Tirion became a full-time celestial cartographer after the success of his first star atlas, Sky Atlas 2000.0, published in 1981.[1] His second major work, Uranometria 2000.0, contained over 280,000 stars and 10,000 deep-sky objects across two volumes and was published by Willmann-Bell in 1987.[1][2] Tirion's sky charts have also been published in astronomy magazines and books, as well as on astronomy websites.[1]
Tirion's early work was largely done by hand, with computer-generated plots as references. In the mid-1990s, he switched to digital illustration.[1]
Tirion died on 5 July 2024 at the age of 81 after a brief illness.[1][2] The asteroid 4648 Tirion is named for him.[2]
Works
Lovi, George; Tirion, Wil (1989). Men, Monsters, and the Modern Universe. Richmond, VA: Willmann-Bell. ISBN0-943396-24-7.
Tirion, Wil; Skiff, Brian (1990). Bright Star Atlas 2000.0. Richmond, VA: Willmann-Bell. ISBN0-943396-27-1.
Dunlop, Storm; Tirion, Wil (2021). 2022 Guide to the Night Sky: A Month-by-Month Guide to Exploring the Skies Above Britain and Ireland. Glasgow, UK: Collins. ISBN978-0-00-839353-3.
Dunlop, Storm; Tirion, Wil (2021). 2022 Guide to the Night Sky: A Month-by-Month Guide to Exploring the Skies above North America. London, UK: Collins. ISBN978-0-00-846986-3.
Dunlop, Storm; Tirion, Wil (2021). 2022 Guide to the Night Sky: A Month-by-Month Guide to Exploring the Skies above Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Glasgow, UK: Collins. ISBN978-0-00-846980-1.