Ira Sprague Bowen (December 21 1898 – February 6 1973) was an American astronomer.

In 1927 he discoverd Nebulium not to be a chemical element.

He won the Henry Draper Medal in 1942.

He won the Bruce Medal in 1957.

He won the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1966.

A crater on the Moon is named after him, as is the asteroid 3363 Bowen .

External links

• Bruce Medal page
• Awarding of Bruce medal: PASP 69 (1957) 105
• Awarding of RAS gold medal: QJRAS 7 (1966) 114

Obituaries

• QJRAS 15 (1974) 193