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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Atghmb (talk | contribs) at 20:25, 10 April 2024 (→Notable Discoveries Works of Astronomer Royals). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

To Do List

  • Create sections
    • Introduction
    • history
    • Astronomer Royals
    • References in other works
  • Find more sources

Response to Peer Review

Impressions: the new layout was intended to flow much better and be simpler for a reader to follow. I will keep this version of the layout now since I know that others think the same.

Lead: As I continue doing my research then I will add more general information to introduce the Astronomer Royal and the work they have done.

Content: I am currently in the process of doing research on some of the notable discoveries that Astronomer Royal's have made. Once I finish I will add paragraphs that will simply explain the discoveries.

Sources: The paragraphs that I have added do have a citation after each sentence however the existing article is lacking many citations or just has citations for the whole paragraph lumped together at the end. I have started the process of finding sources for the existing article and properly citing each statement.

Organization: I agree with the second paragraph of the introduction being more history than a general description. I will work on moving the more historical information to the history section. I created a new section for notable discoveries and will work on adding information.

I will work on distinguishing how the President of the Royal Society and the Astronomer royal are difference. I will also try to find information about what specific work they actually did since the charter is very vague.

Introduction

Astronomer royal is a senior post in the Royal Households of the United Kingdom. There are two officers, the senior being the astronomer royal dating from 22 June 1675; the junior is the astronomer royal for Scotland dating from 1834.

The astronomer royal was director of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich from the establishment of the post in 1675 until 1972. The astronomer royal became an honorary title in 1972 without executive responsibilities, and a separate post of director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory was created to manage the institution.[1][2]

History of the Astronomer Royal

The post was created by King Charles II in 1675, at the same time as he founded the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. He appointed John Flamsteed, instructing him "forthwith to apply himself withthe most exact care and diligence to the rectifying the tables of the motions of the heavens, and the places of the fixed stars, so as to find out the so-much desired longitude of places, for the perfecting the art of navigation."[3][4][1]

The origin of the title Astronomer Royal is unknown. [5] Although Flamsteed is widely considered the first Astronomer Royal, he was never appointed with the the title and only referred to in the Warrant to Ordinance as "Our Astronomical Observer"[5]. Similar language was used to appoint all the Astronomer Royals until 1881 with William Christie's appointment. The term Astronomer Royal did not become commonly used until the late 18th Century while the Royal Warrants still used "Our Astronomical Observer"[5] Other titles such as Royal Professor at Greenwich were also used is less fomal documents during this time. [5]

In 1703, Newton was elected President of the Royal Society and was upset about the lack of publications with the lack of publications coming from the Greenwich Observatory under Flamsteed. [6] This eventually led to Queen Anne's Warrant of 1710 where members of thee Royal Society was appointed as the Board of Visitors to the Royal Observatory to oversee Flamsteed. [5] The original Board of Visitors consisted entirely of associates and allies of Newton which enraged Flamesteed[6].


The astronomer royal today receives a stipend of 100 GBP per year and is a member of the royal household, under the general authority of the Lord Chamberlain. After the separation of the two offices, the position of astronomer royal has been largely honorary, although the holder remains available to advise the Sovereign on astronomical and related scientific matters,[7] and the office is of great prestige.

There was formerly a royal astronomer of Ireland who was also the Andrew's Professor of Astronomy at the University of Dublin[8]. Both became vacant in 1921 with Irish Independence but a new Andrew's Professor of Astronomy was appointed in 1985[8].

Astronomers royal

1. John Flamsteed 1675 1719 [9][10]
2. Edmond Halley 1720 1742 [9][10]
3. James Bradley 1742 1762 [9][10]
4. Nathaniel Bliss 1762 1764 [9][10]
5. Nevil Maskelyne 1765 1811 [9][10]
6. John Pond 1811 1835 [9][10]
7. Sir George Biddell Airy 1835 1881 [11][10]
8. Sir William Christie 1881 1910 [11][10]
9. Sir Frank Dyson 1910 1933 [11][10]
10. Sir Harold Spencer Jones 1933 1955 [11][10]
11. Sir Richard van der Riet Woolley 1956 1971 [11][10]
12. Sir Martin Ryle 1972 1982 [11][10]
13. Sir Francis Graham-Smith 1982 1990 [10]
14. Sir Arnold Wolfendale 1991 1995 [10]
15. Martin Rees, Baron Rees of Ludlow 1995 Incumbent [10]

Notable Discoveries Works of Astronomer Royals

Six years after the death of Flamsteed, Historia Coelestis Britannica published containing much of the data and theories he had spent his life working on both before and after his appointment as Astronomer Royal[12]. It contains accurate tables of lunar motion, planetary motion, and detailed stellar catalogues of 2935 stars[12]. This publication made the Astronomer Royal and the Royal Observatory, Greenwich internationally renown for precise observation[6].

Edmund Halley, was determined to find a way to find longitude at sea without sight of land[13]. Starting in 1725, Halley while serving Astronomer Royal and a Commissioner of the Board of Longitude made very detailed and precise observations of the moon[13]. From these observations he was able to show that longitude could be calculated using the moon in 1731[13]. Although the error is his calculations was about 69 miles at the equator it was more accurate then any other methods till the Marine Chronometer for finding longitude[13].

The astronomer royal is mentioned in H. G. Wells' novel The War of the Worlds and in George Orwell's Down and Out in Paris and London.[14] He also makes an appearance in the lyrics of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance[15] and plays an important role in Fred Hoyle's novel The Black Cloud[16].

References

  1. ^ a b McCrea, William Hunter (1975). Royal Greenwich Observatory : an Historical Review Issued on the Occasion of its Tercentenary. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Bibcode:1975rgo..book.....M.
  2. ^ Meadows, A. J. (1975). Greenwich Observatory, volume 2: Recent History (1836–1975). London: Taylor & Francis. Bibcode:1975gosb.book.....F.
  3. ^ F Baily, "An Account of the Rev. John Flamsteed", reprinted in vol. 28, at p. 293. "The Museum of foreign literature, science and art", R Walsh et al., publ. E Litell, 1836.
  4. ^ Forbes, Eric G. (1975). Greenwich Observatory, volume 1: Origins and Early History (1675–1835). London: Taylor & Francis. Bibcode:1975gosb.book.....F.
  5. ^ a b c d e Lovell, Bernard (1994). "The Royal Society, the Royal Greenwich Observatory and the Astronomer Royal". Notes and Records of the Royal Society of London. 48 (2): 283–297. ISSN 0035-9149.
  6. ^ a b c Ronan, Colin (1969). Astronomers Royal. New York: Doubleday and Company. pp. 43–44. ISBN 108061903013. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: length (help)
  7. ^ "Astronomer Royal". The British Monarchy. Royal Household. Archived from the original on 2016-03-08. Retrieved 2017-06-23.
  8. ^ a b "1986IrAJ...17..167W Page 167". articles.adsabs.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Forbes, Eric G. (1975). Greenwich Observatory, volume 1: Origins and Early History (1675–1835). London: Taylor & Francis. Bibcode:1975gosb.book.....F.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Astronomer Royal". The British Monarchy. Royal Household. Archived from the original on 2016-03-08. Retrieved 2017-06-23.
  11. ^ a b c d e f Meadows, A. J. (1975). Greenwich Observatory, volume 2: Recent History (1836–1975). London: Taylor & Francis. Bibcode:1975gosb.book.....F.
  12. ^ a b Schaffer, S. (1984-07). "The Preface to John Flamsteed's Historia Coelestis Britannica (Book): Annals of Science". Annals of Science. 41 (4): 409. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ a b c d Ronan, Colin (1969). Astronomers Royal. New York: Doubleday and Company. pp. 46–47.
  14. ^ p. 175, Penguin edition
  15. ^ "The Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert and Sullivan". The Gilbert and Sullivan Archive.
  16. ^ Burchell, Tania (February 8, 2020). "The Black Cloud: Scientists in Science Fiction" (PDF). National Radio Astronomy Observatory. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
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