Chester Burleigh Watts
Encyclopedia
Chester Burleigh Watts was an American
astronomer
.
He was born in Winchester, Indiana and he attended the Indiana University
where he studied astronomy. In 1911 he joined the United States Naval Observatory
, but returned to Indiana to complete his B.A.
and graduated in 1914. Thereupon he rejoined the Naval Observatory, and began working in the 6" Transit Circle Division.
Except for a stint in the Time Service Division (1915-1919), he would remain with the transit circle department for the remainder of his career. In 1934 he became director of the 6" Transit Circle Division, and would lead the division for the next 25 years. His observations were published in the volumes of the Observatory publications.
During the 1940s he began the laborious task of mapping the marginal features of the Moon
. (That is, the features that would produce a contour effect along the limb due to libration
.) This study was based upon roughly 700 photograph
s of the lunar limb taken between 1927 up until 1956. The results were published in the Astronomical Papers of the American Emphemeris, volume 17.
He retired in 1959 but he continued to work for several years afterward. He was survived by his wife Ada and a son Chester B., along with (at least) three grandchildren.
He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Sciences degree from Indiana University
in 1953. In 1955 he was awarded the James Craig Watson Medal
by the National Academy of Sciences
for his contributions to astronomy. The asteroid
1798 Watts
is named after him, as is the crater Watts
on the Moon
.
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...
.
He was born in Winchester, Indiana and he attended the Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
where he studied astronomy. In 1911 he joined 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...
, but returned to Indiana to complete his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and graduated in 1914. Thereupon he rejoined the Naval Observatory, and began working in the 6" Transit Circle Division.
Except for a stint in the Time Service Division (1915-1919), he would remain with the transit circle department for the remainder of his career. In 1934 he became director of the 6" Transit Circle Division, and would lead the division for the next 25 years. His observations were published in the volumes of the Observatory publications.
During the 1940s he began the laborious task of mapping the marginal features of the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
. (That is, the features that would produce a contour effect along the limb due to libration
Libration
In astronomy, libration is an oscillating motion of orbiting bodies relative to each other, notably including the motion of the Moon relative to Earth, or of Trojan asteroids relative to planets.-Lunar libration:...
.) This study was based upon roughly 700 photograph
Photograph
A photograph is an image created by light falling on a light-sensitive surface, usually photographic film or an electronic imager such as a CCD or a CMOS chip. Most photographs are created using a camera, which uses a lens to focus the scene's visible wavelengths of light into a reproduction of...
s of the lunar limb taken between 1927 up until 1956. The results were published in the Astronomical Papers of the American Emphemeris, volume 17.
He retired in 1959 but he continued to work for several years afterward. He was survived by his wife Ada and a son Chester B., along with (at least) three grandchildren.
He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Sciences degree from Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
in 1953. In 1955 he was awarded the James Craig Watson Medal
James Craig Watson Medal
thumb|right|400px|James Craig Watson MedalThe James Craig Watson Medal was established by the bequest of James Craig Watson, and is awarded by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences for contributions to astronomy.The recipients have been:-External links:*...
by the National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
for his contributions to astronomy. The asteroid
Asteroid
Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
1798 Watts
1798 Watts
1798 Watts is the name of an asteroid which was discovered at Goethe Link Observatory near Brooklyn, Indiana by the Indiana Asteroid Program....
is named after him, as is the crater Watts
Watts (crater)
Watts is a small lunar crater that is located at the extreme northern edge of the Mare Fecunditatis. Just one crater diameter to the northwest is the irregular da Vinci. Farther to the south is the larger crater Taruntius....
on the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
.