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Real
Name: Unrevealed
Occupation: Astronomer
Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware
of the Astronomer's existence
Legal Status: None
Other Aliases: None known
Place of Birth: Unrevealed
Marital Status: Unrevealed, presumed single
Known relative: None
Group Affiliation: Elders of the Universe
Base of Operations: Unrevealed, presumably mobile
through the known universe
First Appearance: SILVER SURFER Vol. 3 #4
History: Like his fellow Elders
of the Universe, the Astronomer is on of the Universe's
oldest living beings. He has been alive roughly 5.5 billion
Earth years. He is a member of one of the first sentient
races to come into being after the Big Bang that created
the present universe, and he continued to live after the
rest of his race became extinct.
The Astronomer devotes himself monomaniacally
to the study of astronomy. He spends his existence exploring
and charting the universe and studying its stars, planets,
and other heavenly bodies.
The Astronomer is known for his ability to
deal with concepts on a galactic scale. This talent made
him the principal architect of the Elders' recent plan to
kill the planet-destroyer Galactus,
the only non-mystical being in the cosmos who is older than
themselves. The Astronomer explained to his fellow Elders
that since Galactus served to maintain the balance between
the cosmos' embodiment of existence and time, Eternity,
and Death, the embodiment of non-existence, Glactus's demise
would alter that balance, bringing about the end of the
presents universe. Then a new universe would arise in which
the Elders could reign, as it's dominant powers.
To destroy Galactus, the Elders gathered six
power objects called soul-gems, forcing the Silver
Surfer to give them the sixth. Using the gems, the Elders
caused six planets to drain energy from Galactus that he
himself had previously drained from other worlds. Galactus
began to dissipate, but then the Surfer intervened, reflecting
back the energy-draining beam being used against Galactus.
The Surfer then had Calactus's herald. Nova, cause the six
planet's sun to go nova. As a result, a black hole was created,
and its tremendous gravitational force pulled the Astronomer
and his fellow Elders, the Possessor, and Trader into it.
These three Elders were returned to their
native universe by the In-Between. But later the In-Betweener
apparently compelled Death to slay the three Elders, thereby
violating her oath never to kill them. Whether or not the
Astronomer is truly dead forever remains to be seen.
Height: 6 ft. 4 in.
Weight: Unknown
Eyes: Blue
Hair Long brown
Strength Level: The Astronomer's strength
level is unknown although it is probably roughly the same
as that of a middle-aged Earthman of the same height and
build who engages in no regular exercise.
Known Superhuman Powers: Like the other
Elders of the Universe, the Astronomer possesses a cosmic
life force that has retarded and perhaps completely halted
his aging process and that has kept him alive for billions
of years. In some manner that is not clearly understood,
the Elders' longevity is the result of the monomaniacal
obsession of each with their one particular area of endeavor,
as if their unshakable determination to pursue their interests
kept them alive. In the Astronomer's case he is obsessed
with astronomy.
Due to an arrangement between Death and the
Grandmaster, none of the Elders, including the Astronomer,
can die by any means until and unless Death revokes her
pact. The Astronomer can still be injured, but no known
form of injury can kill him.
It has been said that the Astronomer can project
laser beams from his hand and that he uses these beams to
measure the distance between planets. He also use these
beams for destructive purposes. It is not known if he has
any other superhuman abilities. Nor is it known how he manages
to traverse interstellar distances.
Paraphernalia: The Astronomer wears
a device containing lenses over his right eye. This device
gives him telescopic vision, enabling him to see vast distances.
The limits of his telescopic vision are unknown.

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