Joseph Winlock (astronomer)
Encyclopedia
Joseph Winlock was an American
astronomer
and mathematician
.
He was born in Shelby County, Kentucky
, the grandson of General Joseph Winlock (1758–1831). After graduating from Shelby College in Kentucky
in 1845, he was appointed professor of mathematics and astronomy at the institution.
From 1852 until 1857 he worked as a computer for the American Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac
, and relocated to Cambridge, Massachusetts
. He briefly served as head of the department of mathematics at the United States Naval Academy
, but returned as superintendent of the Almanac office.
In 1863 he was one of the fifty charter members of the National Academy of Sciences
. Three year later in 1866 he became director of the Harvard College Observatory
, succeeding George Bond
, and making many improvements in the facility. He was also appointed professor of astronomy at Harvard. He remained at the university until his sudden death in 1875, eventually become professor of geodesy
.
Much of his astronomical work included measurements with the meridian circle
, a catalogue of double star
s and stellar photometry
investigations. He also led solar eclipse
expeditions to Kentucky in 1860 and Spain
in 1870.
The crater Winlock
on the Moon
is named after him.
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...
and mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
.
He was born in Shelby County, Kentucky
Shelby County, Kentucky
Shelby County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2010, the population was 42,074. Its name is in honor of Isaac Shelby, the first Governor of Kentucky. Its county seat is Shelbyville...
, the grandson of General Joseph Winlock (1758–1831). After graduating from Shelby College in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
in 1845, he was appointed professor of mathematics and astronomy at the institution.
From 1852 until 1857 he worked as a computer for the American Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac
American Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac
The American Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac was published for the years 1855 to 1980, containing information necessary for astronomers, surveyors, and navigators...
, and relocated to Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, 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...
. He briefly served as head of the department of mathematics at the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
, but returned as superintendent of the Almanac office.
In 1863 he was one of the fifty charter members of 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...
. Three year later in 1866 he became director of the Harvard College Observatory
Harvard College Observatory
The Harvard College Observatory is an institution managing a complex of buildings and multiple instruments used for astronomical research by the Harvard University Department of Astronomy. It is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, and was founded in 1839...
, succeeding George Bond
George Phillips Bond
George Phillips Bond was an American astronomer. He was the son of William Cranch Bond. Some sources give his year of birth as 1826....
, and making many improvements in the facility. He was also appointed professor of astronomy at Harvard. He remained at the university until his sudden death in 1875, eventually become professor of geodesy
Geodesy
Geodesy , also named geodetics, a branch of earth sciences, is the scientific discipline that deals with the measurement and representation of the Earth, including its gravitational field, in a three-dimensional time-varying space. Geodesists also study geodynamical phenomena such as crustal...
.
Much of his astronomical work included measurements with the meridian circle
Meridian circle
The meridian circle, transit circle, or transit telescope is an instrument for observing the time of stars passing the meridian, at the same time measuring its angular distance from the zenith...
, a catalogue of double star
Double star
In observational astronomy, a double star is a pair of stars that appear close to each other in the sky as seen from Earth when viewed through an optical telescope. This can happen either because the pair forms a binary star, i.e...
s and stellar photometry
Photometry (astronomy)
Photometry is a technique of astronomy concerned with measuring the flux, or intensity of an astronomical object's electromagnetic radiation...
investigations. He also led solar eclipse
Solar eclipse
As seen from the Earth, a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, and the Moon fully or partially blocks the Sun as viewed from a location on Earth. This can happen only during a new moon, when the Sun and the Moon are in conjunction as seen from Earth. At least...
expeditions to Kentucky in 1860 and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in 1870.
The crater Winlock
Winlock (crater)
Winlock is a lunar impact crater on the far side of the Moon, where it lies to the west of the large walled plain Lorentz. From the Earth this crater is located behind the northwestern limb, and just beyond the parts of the far side that are sometimes brought into view due to libration.This is a...
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...
is named after him.
External links
- Page 195, A History of the First Half-Century of the National Academy of Sciences: 1863-1913.