[Lvas] An American Astronomer

[roger ivester]

All,
 
Ten or more years ago Tom English gave a presentation on Edward Emerson Barnard. Possibly 
one of the most unlikely people to achieve success as an astronomer.
 
Please do a little google research and you will find much about this famous American Astronomer.
 
A few things to get you interested if you are unfamiliar with his work.
 
One of the first to employ astrophotography for research. He was the first to discover a comet using 
a camera in 1892. 
 
Visually found the fifth moon of Jupiter. The last moon in the solar system to be discovered using
the eye.
 
Discovered 14 comets between 1881-1892. Three were periodic.
 
Discovered "Bernard's Runaway Star" in Ophiuchus. Apparent magnitude of 9.54, a Red Dwarf, only 
6 LY's from earth. In 1916 he measured it's proper motion at 10.3 arcseconds. This star remains the
largest known proper motion of any star relative to the sun.  Classification M Dwarf Star.
 
Remember: Robert Burnham Jr. did proper motion studies at Lowell for over 20 years. Brain Skiff now 
lives in the famous house that Burnham had lived in. If you are unfamilar with the life of Burnham, it
is very interesting...very sad also.   
 
He had less than a couple years of formal education. His father died early and his mother raised him 
during the turbulent Civil War years.
 
A $200 award for all new comets. Barnard found enough to build his house in Nashville. It is still referred
to as the "Comet House".
 
He was given a Honorary degree from Vanderbilt...the only one ever given. Taught astronomy at Vanderbilt 
and the University of Chicago. 
 
Worked as an astronomer at Lick and then to Yerkes, where he remained until his death in 1923.
 
His famous photo album of Selected Areas of The Milky Way was incredible and was well received by the
astronomy community. Dark matter was unknown during this period. Tom English actually saw some of the 
original work in the library at Georgia Tec
 
He purchased his first scope for use to find comets. It was a 5-inch refractor...not a 6-inch as some sources
give. 
 
Some of his most notable work. Barnards Star, Barnards Loop, and 366 famous images of Dark Nebulae.
 
Barnard Hall at Vanderbilt University.

 

Roger
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
      
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
    The moon and stars to govern the night; his love endures forever.   Psalm 136:9





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