Frank McClean facts for kids

Frank McClean (born November 13, 1837 – died November 8, 1904) was a British astronomer. He was a pioneer in studying starlight using a special method called spectrography. This method helps scientists understand what stars are made of.

Early Life and Engineering

Frank McClean was born in 1837. His father, J. R. McClean, was also a famous engineer. Frank went to Trinity College, Cambridge, and finished his studies in 1859.

After college, he trained to be an engineer. From 1859 to 1862, he worked with Sir John Hawkshaw. He helped improve the drainage systems in an area of England called the Fens. In 1862, he became a partner in an engineering company. However, he retired in 1870 to focus on his true passion: astronomy.

Discoveries in Astronomy

Frank McClean moved to Tunbridge Wells with his wife, Ellen, and their five children. There, he began his important work in astronomy.

Studying Starlight

In 1875, McClean invented a special tool called a star-spectroscope. This device helped him study the light coming from stars. By looking at this light, he could learn about the chemicals present in stars. He also used it to observe solar prominences, which are huge loops of gas that burst from the Sun's surface.

In 1877, he set up an observatory at his home. He used advanced equipment, including a grating spectroscope, to study the light from the Sun and different metals.

Mapping the Stars

McClean started a big project to map the brighter stars in the northern part of the sky. After two years of hard work, he had studied 160 stars. He published his findings in a science magazine called Nature.

In 1897, he traveled to the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. There, he began to study the stars in the southern sky. In just six months, he took photographs of 116 southern stars.

Oxygen in Stars

Also in 1897, McClean made an amazing discovery. He found evidence of oxygen in the light from several bright stars. These stars included Beta Scorpii, Beta Canis Majoris, Beta Centauri, and Beta Crucis. This was a very important finding because it helped scientists understand what stars are made of.

For his great work in studying stars, Frank McClean received the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1899. This is one of the highest honors an astronomer can receive.

Other Interests and Family

Besides astronomy, Frank McClean had many other interests. He loved history and collected old coins. He also had a wonderful collection of medieval art, books, and old handwritten documents, especially from Italy and France.

His son, Francis McClean, became a famous pioneer aviator, meaning he was one of the first people to fly airplanes.

Frank McClean passed away in Brussels, Belgium, on November 8, 1904. He is buried in Kensal Green Cemetery in London, England.