Lewis Boss facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lewis Boss
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| Born | 26 October 1846 |
| Died | 5 October 1912 (aged 65) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Dartmouth College |
| Known for | compilation Hyades star cluster |
| Spouse(s) | Helen M. Hutchinson Boss |
| Children | Benjamin Boss |
| Parent(s) | Samuel P. Boss Lucinda (Joslin) Boss |
| Awards | Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society Lalande Prize (1911) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astronomy |
| Institutions | Dudley Observatory |
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Lewis Boss (born October 26, 1846 – died October 5, 1912) was an American astronomer. He was a very important scientist who studied stars. He worked as the director of the Dudley Observatory in Schenectady, New York.
Contents
Lewis Boss's Early Life
Lewis Boss was born in Providence, Rhode Island. His parents were Samuel P. and Lucinda Boss. He went to high school at the Lapham Institute and the New Hampton Institution. In 1870, he finished his studies at Dartmouth College. After college, he worked for the U.S. Government.
Lewis Boss's Astronomy Career
Lewis Boss started his career helping with a government project. He was an assistant astronomer on an expedition. This team helped to map the border between the U.S. and Canada. In 1876, he became the director of the Dudley Observatory. This important observatory is located in Schenectady, New York.
Mapping the Stars
Boss is famous for his work on mapping stars. He created detailed lists of where stars are located. He also tracked how stars move across the sky over time. This movement is called their proper motion.
Observing Venus and Comets
In 1882, Lewis Boss led a special trip to Chile. The purpose of this trip was to watch the planet Venus pass in front of the Sun. This event is called a transit. He also collected information about how comets travel in space. He studied their paths, known as orbits.
Discovering the Hyades Star Cluster
One of his most important discoveries was about the Hyades star cluster. He figured out the "convergent point" of this group of stars. This means he calculated where the stars in the cluster seem to be moving towards. For his amazing work, he received the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1905.
The Astronomical Journal and Star Catalogues
In 1909, Lewis Boss became the editor of the Astronomical Journal. This is a very important science magazine. The next year, he published a huge book called Preliminary General Catalogue of 6188 Stars for the Epoch 1900. This book was a giant list of stars and their movements.
After Lewis Boss passed away, his son, Benjamin Boss, took over the Astronomical Journal. Benjamin continued to edit the journal until 1941. He also made his father's star catalogue even bigger. In 1936, he published the Boss General Catalogue.
Lewis Boss's Family Life
Lewis Boss married Helen M. Hutchinson on December 30, 1871. They had a son named Benjamin Boss. Benjamin also became a well-known astronomer, just like his father.
Lewis Boss's Legacy
Lewis Boss died on October 5, 1912, in Albany, New York. To honor his contributions to astronomy, a Moon crater was named after him. It is called Boss.
See also
In Spanish: Lewis Boss para niños
- Boss General Catalogue
