Herbert Gursky (May 27, 1930, Bronx, New York – December 1, 2006) was the Superintendent of the Naval Research Laboratory's Space Science Division and Chief Scientist of the E.O.
Gursky's research activities have concentrated in the area of X-ray astronomy.
He has published more than 100 articles in this area and has edited two books on the subject Developments in X-ray Astronomy.
In addition, Gursky managed research activities encompassing solar physics and magnetospheric research while at AS&E and programs of ground-based astronomy and infrared astronomy at SAO, where he also oversaw the completion of the Multiple Mirror Telescope, a joint program of SAO and the University of Arizona, comprising a 4.5 meter (equivalent) telescope of novel design that is situated at Mt.
Gursky's work at the Naval Research Laboratory involved the direction of a basic research unit involving 80 Ph.D. scientists conducting investigations in the areas of space astronomy, solar physics and atmospheric science.