Richard Christopher Carrington facts for kids

Richard Christopher Carrington (born May 26, 1826 – died November 27, 1875) was an English amateur astronomer. He made important discoveries about the Sun. In 1859, he observed solar flares. He also suggested that these flares could affect Earth's auroras. His detailed records of sunspots from 1863 showed that the Sun rotates differently at its equator than at its poles.

Richard Carrington's Life and Discoveries

Early Life and Education

Richard Carrington was born in Chelsea, London. He was the second son of Richard Carrington, who owned a large brewery. Richard went to Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1844. His father wanted him to become a church minister. However, Richard was more interested in science. Lectures on astronomy by Professor Challis helped him decide to become an astronomer.

After finishing college in 1848, he looked for a job to gain experience. He became an observer at the University of Durham in 1849. But he soon felt that the observatory did not have enough good instruments. He wanted to study stars more deeply. He resigned from Durham in 1852. Even so, he had already published some of his observations of minor planets and comets. He became a member of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) in 1851.

Building His Own Observatory

Carrington's house and observatory on Furze Hill, Redhill, Surrey (between 1852 and 1857)

In 1852, Carrington decided to build his own observatory and home in Redhill, Surrey. By July 1853, he had new telescopes and began his work. He started by mapping stars near the North Pole. In 1857, he published a detailed book called A Catalogue of 3,735 Circumpolar Stars. This book listed stars that always stay above the horizon in certain parts of the world.

This important work earned him the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1859. The catalogue was praised for its excellent quality. It also included a deep study of how to correct observations for stars near the pole.

Focusing on the Sun

While building his observatory, Carrington became very interested in the Sun. He noticed that there were not many good records of sunspots. Around this time, scientists discovered a link between Earth's magnetic field and sunspot cycles. Carrington decided to study the Sun closely for the next 11-year sunspot cycle.

He wanted to find out how fast the Sun rotates. He also wanted to understand how sunspots are spread across the Sun's surface. He used a special method: he projected the Sun's image onto a screen. Then, he measured the positions of sunspots as the image moved.

For seven and a half years, he made over 5,000 observations of sunspots. He also drew many detailed pictures. However, his father died in 1858, and Carrington had to take over the family brewery. This meant he could not continue his solar research as much as he wanted. He stopped his observations in 1861.

His findings were published in a book called Observations of the Spots on the Sun from November 9, 1853, to March 24, 1861, made at Redhill (1863). This book greatly changed how scientists understood the Sun.

Understanding Solar Rotation

Scientists had struggled to figure out the Sun's rotation speed. This was because sunspots move on their own. Carrington showed that the Sun's surface actually moves at different speeds. The equator rotates faster than the areas closer to the poles. This is called differential rotation.

He found that the Sun's equator takes about two and a half days less to complete a rotation than spots at higher latitudes. His measurements of the Sun's rotation axis are still used today. He also noticed a strange pattern in how sunspots appear. As the sunspot cycle reached its lowest point, spots moved closer to the equator and then disappeared. Then, new spots would appear at higher latitudes. This pattern is still a mystery.

Observing Solar Eclipses

Carrington traveled to Sweden in 1851 to observe a total solar eclipse. He used this experience to help others. In 1858, he wrote a guide for people who might be able to see a total solar eclipse in South America. He also visited many observatories in Germany in 1856. He drew attention to the work of Heinrich Schwabe, who first discovered the 11-year sunspot cycle. Carrington later helped Schwabe receive the Gold Medal of the RAS.

He served as secretary for the Royal Astronomical Society from 1857 to 1862. He also became a member of the Royal Society in 1860.

The Great Solar Storm of 1859

On September 1, 1859, Carrington and another amateur astronomer, Richard Hodgson, both saw an amazing event. They independently observed a huge solar flare erupting from the Sun. This was the first time a solar flare had ever been seen.

Sunspots of 1 September 1859 as sketched by Richard Carrington

The next day, a powerful geomagnetic storm hit Earth. It caused problems for the new telegraph systems. Telegraph lines across Europe and North America failed. Some telegraph operators even got electric shocks. Sparks flew from telegraph poles. Some operators could still send messages even after disconnecting their power. This event is now known as the Carrington Event. It showed a clear link between solar flares and geomagnetic storms on Earth.

Later Life and Legacy

Carrington's health began to decline after 1865. In 1869, he married Rosa Ellen Jeffries. He sold his brewery and moved to Churt, Surrey. There, he built a new observatory on a hill. However, there are no records of observations made with his new instruments. He stopped attending meetings of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Sadly, his wife died suddenly in November 1875. This event deeply affected him. He died shortly after, on November 27, 1875, from natural causes.

Carrington left his sunspot observation books and drawings to the Royal Astronomical Society. He also left them £2,000. His work helped future astronomers understand the Sun.

Carrington's Contributions to Astronomy

Carrington's observations of sunspot activity were very important. Even though he didn't discover the 11-year sunspot cycle, his work led to the cycles being numbered with his name. For example, the sunspot peak in 2002 was called Carrington Cycle No. 23.

He also accurately measured the tilt of the Sun's rotation axis. His results are still used today. The "Carrington rotation" is a system for measuring solar longitude. It is based on his observations of how fast the Sun rotates at different latitudes.

Carrington also made the first observations that led to "Spörer's law". This law describes how sunspots appear at different latitudes during a solar cycle.

He received the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) in 1859 for his work on circumpolar stars. In 1864, he also won the Lalande Prize from the French Academy of Sciences. This was for his book on sunspot observations.

See also

In Spanish: Richard Christopher Carrington para niños