Alvan Graham Clark facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alvan Graham Clark
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Alvan Clark and his assistant Carl Lundin (right) alongside the 40-inch lens, 1896
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| Born | July 10, 1832 Fall River, Massachusetts
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| Died | June 9, 1897 (aged 65) Cambridge, Massachusetts
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| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Sirius B |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astronomy |
| Signature | |
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Alvan Graham Clark (born July 10, 1832 – died June 9, 1897) was an American astronomer and a skilled maker of telescopes. He is famous for discovering a special type of star called a white dwarf.
Contents
Discovering the "Pup"
Early Life and Family
Alvan Graham Clark was born in Fall River, Massachusetts. His father, Alvan Clark, was also a very talented telescope maker. In fact, his dad started a well-known company called Alvan Clark & Sons, which built some of the best telescopes in the world.
A Groundbreaking Discovery
On January 31, 1862, Alvan Graham Clark was testing a brand new, very large telescope lens. This lens was about 18.5 inches (470 mm) wide. He was in Cambridgeport, Massachusetts, when he made an amazing discovery.
He saw a tiny, faint star next to Sirius, which is the brightest star in our night sky. This tiny star was later named Sirius B, but people often called it "the Pup." This was the very first time anyone had ever seen a white dwarf star!
Why was this discovery so important? For many years, scientists like Friedrich Bessel had thought that Sirius had a hidden companion star. They believed this unseen star was pulling on Sirius, making it wobble slightly. Alvan Graham Clark's discovery of Sirius B proved that they were right! He used the largest refracting telescope lens in the world at that time to see this faint companion.
The Famous Telescope
The 18.5-inch telescope that Alvan Graham Clark used for his discovery was later delivered to its owner, the Dearborn Observatory at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. This historic telescope is still used today, helping people explore the night sky.
Alvan Graham Clark passed away in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on June 9, 1897.
See also
In Spanish: Alvan Graham Clark para niños
- List of astronomical instrument makers
