Robert Kraft (astronomer)

For the New England Patriots owner and businessman, see Robert Kraft.

Kraft in 2005.

Robert Paul "Bob" Kraft (June 16, 1927 – May 26, 2015) was an American astronomer. He performed ground breaking work on Cepheid variables, stellar rotation, novae, and the chemical evolution of the Milky Way. He also served as director of the Lick Observatory (1981–1991), president of the American Astronomical Society (1974–1976), and president of the International Astronomical Union (1997–2000).

Kraft was born in Seattle, Washington. He graduated from the University of Washington and the University of California, Berkeley.

Kraft died on May 26, 2015 in Santa Cruz, California, aged 87.