Mervyn A. Ellison
Encyclopedia
Mervyn Archdall Ellison was an Irish astronomer. He was recognized as a world authority on solar physics and the effect of solar flares on the Earth
.
He was born at Fethard-on-Sea
, the third son of Reverend William Frederick Archdall Ellison, and was home tutored until the age of nine when his father became the director of Armagh Observatory
. Mervyn was entered into the Armagh Royal School, and during his spare time he developed an interest in astronomy. In 1927 he began his undergraduate work at Trinity College, Dublin
where he studied physics and received honors. In 1931–32 he worked on radium
emanations for the Dublin hospitals under a Fitzgerald Research Scholarship. He was awarded a M.Sc. in 1932 and a Sc.D. in 1944.
Ellison became senior science master at Sherborne School in Dorset, 1933, then married Patricia Herron in 1934. The couple had two daughters and a son. He also completed his own spectrohelioscope during this period, to study the Sun following the sunspot minimum. With the start of the world war, he organized an Air Cadet Training Corps, then joined the Operational Research Group at the Admiralty.
In 1946 he became a member of the International Astronomical Union
. The following year, he joined the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh
, where he continued studies of solar activity, including flares and prominences. In 1948 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He remained at the observatory for eleven years and published multiple scientific papers on his work. He also was invited to lectured on astronomy, and gave radio and television interviews about solar activity. For five years he was joint editor of The Observatory. He also played a leading role in the scientific work during the International Geophysical Year
, serving as solar reporter and working to erect a heliograph at the Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope
.
Ellison published the book The Sun and its Influence in 1955. In 1958 he was appointed director of the Dunsink Observatory
, and worked on several astronomical publications. He fell ill in 1963 and died. At the time of his death he was senior professor of Astronomy at the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies.
Ellison
crater
on the Moon
is named after him. (Note that the asteroid
10177 Ellison
is not named after him, but rather the author Harlan Ellison
.)
Earth
Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the densest and fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest of the Solar System's four terrestrial planets...
.
He was born at Fethard-on-Sea
Fethard-on-Sea
Fethard-on-Sea , or Fethard, is a village inn south-western County Wexford, Ireland on the eastern side of the Hook peninsula. It is in the parish of Templetown in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ferns. Neighbouring parishes are Duncannon, Ramsgrange and Ballycullane.- History :Now known as a fishing...
, the third son of Reverend William Frederick Archdall Ellison, and was home tutored until the age of nine when his father became the director of Armagh Observatory
Armagh Observatory
Armagh Observatory is a modern astronomical research institute with a rich heritage, based in Armagh, Northern Ireland. Around 25 astronomers are actively studying stellar astrophysics, the Sun, Solar System astronomy, and the Earth's climate....
. Mervyn was entered into the Armagh Royal School, and during his spare time he developed an interest in astronomy. In 1927 he began his undergraduate work at Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
where he studied physics and received honors. In 1931–32 he worked on radium
Radium
Radium is a chemical element with atomic number 88, represented by the symbol Ra. Radium is an almost pure-white alkaline earth metal, but it readily oxidizes on exposure to air, becoming black in color. All isotopes of radium are highly radioactive, with the most stable isotope being radium-226,...
emanations for the Dublin hospitals under a Fitzgerald Research Scholarship. He was awarded a M.Sc. in 1932 and a Sc.D. in 1944.
Ellison became senior science master at Sherborne School in Dorset, 1933, then married Patricia Herron in 1934. The couple had two daughters and a son. He also completed his own spectrohelioscope during this period, to study the Sun following the sunspot minimum. With the start of the world war, he organized an Air Cadet Training Corps, then joined the Operational Research Group at the Admiralty.
In 1946 he became a member of the International Astronomical Union
International Astronomical Union
The International Astronomical Union IAU is a collection of professional astronomers, at the Ph.D. level and beyond, active in professional research and education in astronomy...
. The following year, he joined the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, where he continued studies of solar activity, including flares and prominences. In 1948 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He remained at the observatory for eleven years and published multiple scientific papers on his work. He also was invited to lectured on astronomy, and gave radio and television interviews about solar activity. For five years he was joint editor of The Observatory. He also played a leading role in the scientific work during the International Geophysical Year
International Geophysical Year
The International Geophysical Year was an international scientific project that lasted from July 1, 1957, to December 31, 1958. It marked the end of a long period during the Cold War when scientific interchange between East and West was seriously interrupted...
, serving as solar reporter and working to erect a heliograph at the Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope
Cape of Good Hope
The Cape of Good Hope is a rocky headland on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.There is a misconception that the Cape of Good Hope is the southern tip of Africa, because it was once believed to be the dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In fact, the...
.
Ellison published the book The Sun and its Influence in 1955. In 1958 he was appointed director of the Dunsink Observatory
Dunsink Observatory
The Dunsink Observatory is an astronomical observatory established in 1785 in the townland of Dunsink near the city of Dublin, Ireland.Its most famous director was William Rowan Hamilton, who, amongst other things, discovered quaternions, the first non-commutative algebra, while strolling from the...
, and worked on several astronomical publications. He fell ill in 1963 and died. At the time of his death he was senior professor of Astronomy at the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies.
Ellison
Ellison (crater)
Ellison is a lunar impact crater that lies on the far side of the Moon from the Earth. It is located just beyond the northwest limb of the Moon, to the southwest of the large walled plain Poczobutt. Due west of Ellison is the crater Coulomb....
crater
Impact crater
In the broadest sense, the term impact crater can be applied to any depression, natural or manmade, resulting from the high velocity impact of a projectile with a larger body...
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. (Note that 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...
10177 Ellison
10177 Ellison
10177 Ellison is a main-belt asteroid discovered on February 10, 1996 by Spacewatch at Kitt Peak. It is named after American science fiction writer Harlan Ellison.- External links :*...
is not named after him, but rather the author Harlan Ellison
Harlan Ellison
Harlan Jay Ellison is an American writer. His principal genre is speculative fiction.His published works include over 1,700 short stories, novellas, screenplays, teleplays, essays, a wide range of criticism covering literature, film, television, and print media...
.)