Simon Newcomb – America’s Unofficial Astronomer Royal

Description

An unprecedented account of one of the most influential men of nineteenth-century astronomy from his rise of a poor Canadian immigrant to an important scientific research professor of mathematics and astronomy at the US. Naval Observatory.

Simon Newcomb enjoyed recognition like no other astronomer in the United States before him. The respect rewarded him by the scientific community was intense and even Einstein wrote of the monumental importance of Newcomb’s work many years after his death.

This book shows a never published story of Newcomb’s close friends,  family,  and adventures including his association with important men of his time, Alexander Graham Bell, Michaelson, and President Garfield.

An excellent bibliography and most interesting reading.

Authors

Bill Carter and Merri Sue Carter

Table of Contents

Preface. IX
Prologue. XIII
Chapter 1: Solar Eclipse
Chapter 2: John and Simon: Father and Son. 17
Chapter 3: First Decade at the Naval Observatory. 31
Chapter 4: Newcomb meets Airy. 43
Chapter 5:  1874 Transit of Venus. 59
Chapter 6: World’s Largest Refractor Telescope. 77
Chapter 7: Velocity of Light Measurements. 88
Chapter 8: Newcomb-Garfield Connection
Chapter 9: 1882 Transit of Venus. 123
Chapter 10: Professor Times Two. 138
Chapter 11: Variation of Latitude. 148
Chapter 12: Brouhaha Over Standards and Constant. 158
Chapter 13: Life After Retirement. 172
Epilogue. 188
Time Line: Important Events in the Life of Simon Newcomb. 192
President Simon Newcomb Served Under. 195
Secretaries of the Navy Simon Newcomb Served Under. 195
Life Spans of Selected People. 156
Notes. 198
Bibliography. 204
About the Authors. 214
Index