Arthur Matthew Weld Downing facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arthur Matthew Weld Downing
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| Born | 13 April 1850 |
| Died | 8 December 1917 (aged 67) Bloomsbury, London, England
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| Alma mater | Trinity College, Dublin |
| Spouse(s) | Ellen Jane Downing |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Mathematics, astronomy |
| Institutions | Royal Greenwich Observatory, HM Nautical Almanac Office |
Arthur Matthew Weld Downing (born April 13, 1850 – died December 8, 1917) was an important Irish mathematician and astronomer. He was famous for figuring out where planets and stars were and how they moved. He also helped start the British Astronomical Association.
Early Life and Learning
Arthur Downing was born in County Carlow, Ireland, on April 13, 1850. He was the younger son of Arthur Matthew Downing and Mary Weld.
He went to Nutgrove School near Dublin. Later, in 1866, he started studying at Trinity College, Dublin. He earned a scholarship in science. In 1871, he got his first degree, a Bachelor of Arts (BA), with a special award in mathematics. He continued his studies and received a Master's degree in 1881. In 1893, he was given an honorary Doctor of Science degree.
His Career in Astronomy
Arthur Downing started working at the Royal Greenwich Observatory on January 17, 1873. This is a very famous place for studying stars and planets.
At first, he took care of old papers and the library. Then, he worked in the time department. He also helped with calculations about the positions of stars. He studied how to measure the positions of objects in the sky. He was one of four people who observed the sky using special telescopes.
In 1875, Downing became a member of the Royal Astronomical Society. He wrote 75 papers, mostly about fixing mistakes in star maps. He also worked on calculating how planets and stars move.
One interesting project was with George Johnstone Stoney. They studied the Leonid meteors, which are like shooting stars. They even predicted why the meteor shower in 1899 would be very small.
From 1891 until he retired in 1910, Downing was in charge of the HM Nautical Almanac Office. This office creates books that sailors and astronomers use to find their way and know where celestial objects are. In 1896, he was chosen to be a member of the Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a great honor for scientists.
He worked with an American scientist named Simon Newcomb. Together, they helped set up a worldwide standard for important numbers used in astronomy. These numbers help everyone agree on how to measure things in space.
Helping Amateur Astronomers
Arthur Downing was one of the people who started the British Astronomical Association. He strongly supported this group in its early years. This work was very important because it helped people who loved astronomy as a hobby.
He served as the vice president of the Association from 1890 to 1891. Later, he became the president from 1892 to 1894. He also served as a secretary and vice president for the Royal Astronomical Society.
Later Life
Arthur Downing was married to Ellen Jane Downing. They had one daughter.
He passed away suddenly from heart disease on December 8, 1917. He was at his home in Bloomsbury, London. His cremation took place on December 13, 1917, at Golders Green Crematorium.
