William Harkness facts for kids
William Harkness (born December 17, 1837 – died February 28, 1903) was an amazing astronomer. He was born in a place called Ecclefechan, Scotland. His dad, James, was a pastor, and he moved the family to the United States. William Harkness served in the military, traveled a lot, and led important research trips. He helped create new ways and tools for studying space.
William Harkness passed away in Jersey City on February 28, 1903, when he was 65 years old.
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Early Life and Education
William Harkness went to Lafayette College from 1854 to 1856. He then graduated from the University of Rochester in 1858. While there, he was part of a group called Delta Kappa Epsilon. He also studied medicine in New York City.
Serving in the Military
During the American Civil War, Harkness worked as a surgeon for the Union armies. From 1862 to 1865, he was an "aid in astronomy" at the United States Naval Observatory. This means he helped with astronomy research.
After the war, he served on a special warship called the USS Monadnock from 1865 to 1866. Then, he worked for the Hydrographic Office, which maps water areas.
Discoveries and Inventions
William Harkness made many important contributions to astronomy. He was very good at building telescopes and other tools for studying the stars.
Studying Solar Eclipses
During a solar eclipse in August 1869, Harkness made an exciting discovery. He found a special light line in the sun's outer atmosphere, called the coronal line K 1474. This helped scientists learn more about the sun.
Tracking Venus
A few years later, he became part of the Transit of Venus Commission. This group studied when the planet Venus passed directly in front of the sun. Harkness led a team in Hobart, Tasmania in 1879 and another in Washington in 1882. He later became the main leader of the commission.
Innovations in Telescopes
Harkness is best known for his work on telescopes. He developed a theory about how the light focuses in certain telescopes, called achromatic telescopes. He also invented new astronomical instruments, like the spherometer caliper, which helps measure curved surfaces very precisely.
Leadership Roles and Retirement
William Harkness held important positions in the world of astronomy.
Leading Observatories
He was the main director of astronomy at the Naval Observatory from 1894 to 1899. He also directed the Nautical Almanac from 1897 to 1899. The Nautical Almanac is a book that sailors and astronomers use to find the positions of stars and planets.
In December 1899, he retired from the navy with the rank of rear admiral. He was also the president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1893. This is a big group that helps science grow.
Key Publications
One of his most important books was The Solar Parallax and its Related Constants, which he wrote in 1891. This book helped scientists understand the distance to the sun better.
