Solon Irving Bailey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Solon Irving Bailey
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Bailey in 1932
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| Born | December 29, 1854 Lisbon, New Hampshire, U.S.
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| Died | June 5, 1931 (aged 76) Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Boston University |
| Known for | Establishing the Boyden Station |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astronomy, photography |
| Institutions | Harvard University |
Solon Irving Bailey (December 29, 1854 – June 5, 1931) was an American astronomer. He was known for discovering an main-belt asteroid called 504 Cora on June 30, 1902. Bailey also helped set up an important observatory in South America.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Solon Irving Bailey was born in Lisbon, New Hampshire. He studied at Boston University. Later, he earned another master's degree from Harvard University. This prepared him for a career studying the stars.
Work at Harvard Observatory
In 1887, Bailey joined the team at Harvard College Observatory. This was a famous place for studying space. He became a very important part of their work.
Building the Boyden Station
A special fund, called the "Boyden Fund," was given to the observatory. This money helped them build a new research station. Bailey played a big role in finding the perfect spot for it. They chose Arequipa, Peru, because of its clear skies.
Bailey was in charge of this new place, called Boyden Station. He worked there from 1892 to 1919. He also studied the weather in Peru. He traveled to many high, empty areas to collect information. Later, in 1927, Boyden Station moved to South Africa. It is now known as the Boyden Observatory.
Studying Stars and Asteroids
Bailey spent a lot of time studying variable stars. These are stars that change how bright they look. He focused on stars found in groups called globular clusters in the southern sky.
He also studied a near-Earth asteroid named 433 Eros. He measured how fast it spun around. His measurements were very accurate.
Leading the Observatory
From 1919 to 1921, Bailey was the acting director of Harvard College Observatory. This happened after the previous director, Edward Charles Pickering, passed away. Bailey worked closely with another famous astronomer, Henrietta Leavitt.
Later Life
In 1892, Bailey was chosen as a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. This was a great honor. Solon Irving Bailey passed away in 1931 at his summer home in Hanover, New Hampshire.
See also
In Spanish: Solon Irving Bailey para niños
