William Edward Wilson (astronomer) facts for kids

William Edward Wilson was an amazing Irish astronomer who lived from 1851 to 1908. He spent his life studying the stars, planets, and even the Sun!

A Life Among the Stars

William Edward Wilson was born on July 19, 1851, in Greenisland, County Antrim, Ireland. He was the only son of John and Frances Wilson. His family lived at Daramona House in Streete, County Westmeath. William was taught at home, which means he was "privately educated."

Early Discoveries and Telescopes

William became very interested in astronomy. When he was 19, in 1870, he traveled all the way to Oran to take pictures of a solar eclipse. A solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, blocking the Sun's light.

In 1871, William got his first big telescope. It was a reflecting telescope with a 12-inch (30.5 cm) wide lens. He set it up in a special dome in the gardens of his family's home, Daramona House. He used this telescope to try taking photos of the Moon. He also started studying the Sun's energy using tools called "thermopiles." These tools help measure heat.

Ten years later, in 1881, William got an even bigger and better telescope! This new one was 24 inches (61 cm) wide. It came from a famous company called the Grubb Telescope Company. This telescope was special because it had an electric "clock drive." This device helped the telescope move slowly and smoothly to keep up with the stars as the Earth rotated.

William built a two-story tower attached to his house just for this new telescope. The tower also had a science lab, a darkroom for developing photos, and a workshop.

Studying the Sun's Heat

William Wilson's most important work was trying to figure out how hot the Sun is. He worked with a partner named P.L. Gray. They used a special tool called a "differential radio-micrometer." This tool was like a super-sensitive thermometer for light and heat. It combined two other tools: a bolometer (which measures heat from radiation) and a galvanometer (which measures electric current).

Their measurements suggested the Sun's surface was about 8,000 degrees Celsius (14,432 degrees Fahrenheit). After they adjusted their numbers for how much heat the Earth's atmosphere absorbs, they got a final estimate of 6,590 degrees Celsius (11,894 degrees Fahrenheit). Today, scientists know the Sun's surface is about 6,075 degrees Celsius (10,967 degrees Fahrenheit), so William's estimate was quite close for his time!

Other Astronomical Adventures

William Wilson also worked on many other exciting astronomy projects:

• He observed the transit of Venus. This is when the planet Venus passes directly in front of the Sun, looking like a small black dot moving across its face.
• He studied how stars move.
• He observed sunspots, which are darker, cooler areas on the Sun's surface.
• He even traveled to Spain to photograph another solar eclipse!

William was also very good at taking pictures of space. He captured many excellent photographs of celestial bodies, like nebulae. Nebulae are huge clouds of dust and gas in space where stars are born. He published his findings in scientific papers, including one called Experimental Observations on the Effective Temperature of the Sun.

Awards and Recognition

William Wilson was recognized for his important work:

• In 1875, he became a member of the Royal Astronomical Society, a group for astronomers.
• In 1896, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society. This is a very high honor for scientists in the United Kingdom.
• In 1901, the University of Dublin gave him an honorary doctorate degree (D.Sc.), which is a special academic award.

William Edward Wilson passed away at Daramona at the age of 56, on March 6, 1908. He was buried in the family plot in Streete churchyard. He had married Caroline Ada Granville in 1886, and they had one son and two daughters. His son later gave William's amazing telescope to London University. It was used there for teaching and research, and eventually became a display in the Liverpool museum.