Paul McNally
Encyclopedia
Paul A. McNally was an American
astronomer
and a Jesuit priest.
In 1928 he became the director of the Georgetown Observatory
, and he led research that was focused on solar eclipse
s. He was a professor
of astronomy at Georgetown University
, and later became Vice President at the institution. In 1946 he became the university's Dean
and Regent
.
The crater McNally
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 a Jesuit priest.
In 1928 he became the director of the Georgetown Observatory
Georgetown University Astronomical Observatory
The Georgetown University Astronomical Observatory was founded in 1841 by Father James Curley of the Department of Physics at Georgetown College. Father Curley chose a site on the College grounds, planned the building and supervised its construction to its completion in 1844. Costs were initially...
, and he led research that was focused on 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...
s. He was a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of astronomy at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
, and later became Vice President at the institution. In 1946 he became the university's Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
and Regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
.
The crater McNally
McNally (crater)
McNally is a Teacher crater that is located to the north-northwest of the much larger crater Fersman, on the far side of Moon. This is a worn crater with a rounded rim edge that is marked by many tiny impacts. Smaller, cup-shaped impacts cut through the rim along the southeastern and northern...
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.