Asaph Hall Jr
Encyclopedia
Asaph Hall Jr(1859–1930) was an American
astronomer
, the son of Asaph Hall
. He grew up in Washington, DC where his father worked at the United States Naval Observatory
. Hall graduated from Harvard University
in 1881 and received a doctoral degree from Yale
in 1889. In the time between attending Harvard and Yale, Hall served as an assistant at the Naval Observatory for three years, maintaining the same position for four years while at Yale.
welcomed their newest addition (Olivier 351). Asaph Hall and his wife, and former Geometry teacher, Angeline Stickney Hall gave their son a deep-seated love of astronomy. His father was a noted astronomer, who discovered the moons of Mars, which he named Phobos and Deimos for the attendants of the Greek god of war (“History of Science and Technology: Asaph Hall”).
“Some of the fellows are angry because I was put in the advanced sections, and they were not, and so they don’t come to see me anymore. But I am glad to get rid of them, and I hope that they stay well away” (Letter to Asaph Hall, Sr.)
Asaph worked at the United States Naval Observatory
while he was attending Yale, as an astronomer. By the time he received his doctorates degree in 1889. Following the completion of his doctorates, he continued to work as an assistant astronomer until 1892.
at Ann Arbor, as a professor of astronomy and director of the observatory, succeeding William J. Hussey as the Acting Director. Asaph Jr. also continued Brunnow’s work on the meridian circle telescope, despite the fact that it was regarded by many as obsolete.
He played a role in “the determination of the longitude of Washington from Paris by radio signals (Olivier 532).” He advocated better pay from the government for the civilian staff who served at the Naval Observatory. He was given an engraved letter for this advocacy, expressing the gratitude of a large number of junior ranking employees before he left in 1908 to accept an adjunct professorship at his former alma mater
, The George Washington University.
Shortly before his death it was said that, “In the few short months that he was associated with the Flower Observatory, by his unfailing good humor, geniality, and kindly help to everyone he immediately made a place for himself in the highest regard of all who knew him. (Olivier 532)” He died on January 12, 1930, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
, the son of Asaph Hall
Asaph Hall
Asaph Hall III was an American astronomer who is most famous for having discovered the moons of Mars in 1877...
. He grew up in Washington, DC where his father worked at the United States Naval Observatory
United States Naval Observatory
The United States Naval Observatory is one of the oldest scientific agencies in the United States, with a primary mission to produce Positioning, Navigation, and Timing for the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Department of Defense...
. Hall graduated from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1881 and received a doctoral degree from Yale
YALE
RapidMiner, formerly YALE , is an environment for machine learning, data mining, text mining, predictive analytics, and business analytics. It is used for research, education, training, rapid prototyping, application development, and industrial applications...
in 1889. In the time between attending Harvard and Yale, Hall served as an assistant at the Naval Observatory for three years, maintaining the same position for four years while at Yale.
Childhood
On October 6, 1859, the Hall family and the city of Cambridge, MassachusettsCambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
welcomed their newest addition (Olivier 351). Asaph Hall and his wife, and former Geometry teacher, Angeline Stickney Hall gave their son a deep-seated love of astronomy. His father was a noted astronomer, who discovered the moons of Mars, which he named Phobos and Deimos for the attendants of the Greek god of war (“History of Science and Technology: Asaph Hall”).
Education
He studied at The George Washington University from 1876 to 1878, and subsequently at his father's alma mater, Harvard University. He excelled academically and was placed in advanced studies- much to the dismay of his peers. In January 1879, he wrote to his father:“Some of the fellows are angry because I was put in the advanced sections, and they were not, and so they don’t come to see me anymore. But I am glad to get rid of them, and I hope that they stay well away” (Letter to Asaph Hall, Sr.)
Asaph worked at the United States Naval Observatory
United States Naval Observatory
The United States Naval Observatory is one of the oldest scientific agencies in the United States, with a primary mission to produce Positioning, Navigation, and Timing for the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Department of Defense...
while he was attending Yale, as an astronomer. By the time he received his doctorates degree in 1889. Following the completion of his doctorates, he continued to work as an assistant astronomer until 1892.
Career
Asaph began his teaching career in 1892 at the University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
at Ann Arbor, as a professor of astronomy and director of the observatory, succeeding William J. Hussey as the Acting Director. Asaph Jr. also continued Brunnow’s work on the meridian circle telescope, despite the fact that it was regarded by many as obsolete.
Family Life
In 1897, Professor Hall married Mary Estella Cockrell, and they had two daughters, Mary and Katherine C. Hall. To support his growing family and further his career in astronomy, Asaph left the University of Michigan and accepted the promotion of professor of mathematics in the U.S. Navy.Contributions
While at Yale, he determined “an orbit of Titan and a determination of the mass of Saturn". This reflects his change in focus from the meridian circle to concentrating primarily on the orbit of satellites. The publications of the U.S. Naval Observatory, II Series , Vol. 12, Appendix contains many of his work.He played a role in “the determination of the longitude of Washington from Paris by radio signals (Olivier 532).” He advocated better pay from the government for the civilian staff who served at the Naval Observatory. He was given an engraved letter for this advocacy, expressing the gratitude of a large number of junior ranking employees before he left in 1908 to accept an adjunct professorship at his former alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, The George Washington University.
Organizations
Professor Hall was vice-president and chairman of Section A f the A.A.A.S in 1900, at the age of 41 and also a member of the American Astronomical Society, Washington Academy, Astronomische Gesellschaft, and the Philosophical Society of Washington. He was also a brother in the fraternities Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Zi and a registrar general and genealogist of the Society of American Wars for many years. In the Naval Observatory, he was a member of the Board of Visitors in 1900 and remained a member of the council for many years. Furthermore, his love of astronomy and knowledge did not undermine his faith in God as seen through his membership in the Unitarian Church. (Olivier 532)Later Years
After he resigned, he moved to Upper Darby, Pennsylvania but continued his research. Due to an agreement with a certain writer, he obtained the titles of both guest and volunteer observer at the Flower Observatory. (Olivier 352)Shortly before his death it was said that, “In the few short months that he was associated with the Flower Observatory, by his unfailing good humor, geniality, and kindly help to everyone he immediately made a place for himself in the highest regard of all who knew him. (Olivier 532)” He died on January 12, 1930, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.