Arthur Butler Phillips Mee
Encyclopedia
Arthur Butler Phillips Mee (born Aberdeen
, October 21, 1860-died Llanishen
, January 15, 1926) was a Scottish
-born newspaper journalist, editor and notable amateur astronomer
.
He was born the son of a Baptist pastor George S. Mee and his wife Elizabeth. After leaving the ministry, Arthur's father became a journalist and he moved the family to western Wales
. The son joined his father's profession, becoming a journalist in the town of Llanelli
. He was married to Claudia Thomas in 1888.
In 1892 the couple moved to Cardiff
where he began working at the Western Mail, a regional newspaper. He continued to work at the same newspaper up until his death, writing a regular column and performing editorial work as an assistant.
He was most noted for his efforts in support of amateur astronomy. In 1890 he was a founding member of the British Astronomical Association
, and for a period of time was a Fellow
of the Royal Astronomical Society
. His observations focused on the Moon
and Mars
, including making detailed charts and drawings of the features. Two of his drawings appeared in La Planète Mars by
Camille Flammarion
.
He was a regular contributor to various scientific and technical publications. In 1892 he became the first person to observe the shadow of the moon Titan
during a transit
of the planet
Saturn
.
In 1893 he published the book Observational Astronomy. Two years later in 1895 he helped initiate foundation of the Astronomical Society of Wales, thereafter becoming the first president and editing the Society's journal. He continued to contribute to the society until the start of World War I
, when it was disbanded.
He was the editor of the first edition of Who's Who in Wales
, published in 1921.
The crater Mee
on the Moon is named in his honor.
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, October 21, 1860-died Llanishen
Llanishen
Llanishen is a district in the north of Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. Llanishen is well-known as the home of the 'Tax Offices', the tallest buildings in north Cardiff and a landmark for miles around...
, January 15, 1926) was a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
-born newspaper journalist, editor and notable amateur astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
.
He was born the son of a Baptist pastor George S. Mee and his wife Elizabeth. After leaving the ministry, Arthur's father became a journalist and he moved the family to western Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The son joined his father's profession, becoming a journalist in the town of Llanelli
Llanelli
Llanelli , the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed , Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast, approximately west-north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. The town is famous for its proud rugby...
. He was married to Claudia Thomas in 1888.
In 1892 the couple moved to Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
where he began working at the Western Mail, a regional newspaper. He continued to work at the same newspaper up until his death, writing a regular column and performing editorial work as an assistant.
He was most noted for his efforts in support of amateur astronomy. In 1890 he was a founding member of the British Astronomical Association
British Astronomical Association
The British Astronomical Association is the senior national association of amateur astronomers in the UK.-Function:It encourages observational astronomy by non-professionals in areas which cannot be covered by professional observatories...
, and for a period of time was a Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of the Royal Astronomical Society
Royal Astronomical Society
The Royal Astronomical Society is a learned society that began as the Astronomical Society of London in 1820 to support astronomical research . It became the Royal Astronomical Society in 1831 on receiving its Royal Charter from William IV...
. His observations focused on the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
and Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
, including making detailed charts and drawings of the features. Two of his drawings appeared in La Planète Mars by
Camille Flammarion
Camille Flammarion
Nicolas Camille Flammarion was a French astronomer and author. He was a prolific author of more than fifty titles, including popular science works about astronomy, several notable early science fiction novels, and several works about Spiritism and related topics. He also published the magazine...
.
He was a regular contributor to various scientific and technical publications. In 1892 he became the first person to observe the shadow of the moon Titan
Titan (moon)
Titan , or Saturn VI, is the largest moon of Saturn, the only natural satellite known to have a dense atmosphere, and the only object other than Earth for which clear evidence of stable bodies of surface liquid has been found....
during a transit
Astronomical transit
The term transit or astronomical transit has three meanings in astronomy:* A transit is the astronomical event that occurs when one celestial body appears to move across the face of another celestial body, hiding a small part of it, as seen by an observer at some particular vantage point...
of the planet
Planet
A planet is a celestial body orbiting a star or stellar remnant that is massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity, is not massive enough to cause thermonuclear fusion, and has cleared its neighbouring region of planetesimals.The term planet is ancient, with ties to history, science,...
Saturn
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System, after Jupiter. Saturn is named after the Roman god Saturn, equated to the Greek Cronus , the Babylonian Ninurta and the Hindu Shani. Saturn's astronomical symbol represents the Roman god's sickle.Saturn,...
.
In 1893 he published the book Observational Astronomy. Two years later in 1895 he helped initiate foundation of the Astronomical Society of Wales, thereafter becoming the first president and editing the Society's journal. He continued to contribute to the society until the start of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, when it was disbanded.
He was the editor of the first edition of Who's Who in Wales
Who's Who
Who's Who is the title of a number of reference publications, generally containing concise biographical information on a particular group of people...
, published in 1921.
The crater Mee
Mee (crater)
Mee is a lunar crater that is located in the southwestern part of the Moon's near side. Overlying the northwestern rim and intruding one-third the distance across the interior floor is Hainzel, a merged triple-crater formation. To the south is the highly elongated crater Schiller. Mee is 132...
on the Moon is named in his honor.
External links
- ARTHUR MEE (1860-1926), biography by Bryn Jones with references.