Thomas David Anderson
Encyclopedia
Thomas David Anderson was a Scottish amateur astronomer
.
He was born in Edinburgh
. When he was five years old, his father showed him Comet Donati
, and his nanny also gave him an interest in astronomy.
He studied theology
and obtained a D.Sc. in philology
in 1880, but abandoned the idea of becoming a minister. He was sufficiently well off financially to pursue astronomy full time.
He became a keen observer, and discovered two fairly well known nova
s: Nova Aurigae 1892 and Nova Persei 1901
. The former marked the first time a nova's spectrum had been photographed, while the latter eventually reached magnitude
0.2 to became the brightest nova in history since the supernova
SN 1604
, though it was later topped by Nova Aquilae 1918
. His timely discoveries enabled spectra to be taken before maximum magnitude was reached.
He constructed his own star charts and discovered 53 variable star
s, the first being V Cassiopeiae in 1893. He also discovered through research that the 3rd-magnitude star Theta Eridani
had been described as 1st-magnitude by Ptolemy
and al-Sufi.
For his nova discoveries he won the Jackson-Gwilt Medal
of the Royal Astronomical Society
in 1902.
He left Edinburgh for good in 1904 in search of better observing conditions. He claimed to have discovered another nova in Cygnus
in 1923, but this could not be independently confirmed, and it is possible that it was a flare star
.
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 in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. When he was five years old, his father showed him Comet Donati
Comet Donati
Comet Donati, or Donati's Comet, formally designated C/1858 L1 and 1858 VI, is a long-period comet named after the Italian astronomer Giovanni Battista Donati who first observed it on June 2, 1858. After the Great Comet of 1811, it was the most brilliant comet that appeared in the 19th century. It...
, and his nanny also gave him an interest in astronomy.
He studied theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and obtained a D.Sc. in philology
Philology
Philology is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a combination of literary studies, history and linguistics.Classical philology is the philology of Greek and Classical Latin...
in 1880, but abandoned the idea of becoming a minister. He was sufficiently well off financially to pursue astronomy full time.
He became a keen observer, and discovered two fairly well known nova
Nova
A nova is a cataclysmic nuclear explosion in a star caused by the accretion of hydrogen on to the surface of a white dwarf star, which ignites and starts nuclear fusion in a runaway manner...
s: Nova Aurigae 1892 and Nova Persei 1901
GK Persei
GK Persei was a bright nova occurring in 1901. It reached a maximum magnitude of 0.2, the brightest nova of modern times until Nova Aquilae 1918...
. The former marked the first time a nova's spectrum had been photographed, while the latter eventually reached magnitude
Apparent magnitude
The apparent magnitude of a celestial body is a measure of its brightness as seen by an observer on Earth, adjusted to the value it would have in the absence of the atmosphere...
0.2 to became the brightest nova in history since the supernova
Supernova
A supernova is a stellar explosion that is more energetic than a nova. It is pronounced with the plural supernovae or supernovas. Supernovae are extremely luminous and cause a burst of radiation that often briefly outshines an entire galaxy, before fading from view over several weeks or months...
SN 1604
SN 1604
Supernova 1604, also known as Kepler's Supernova, Kepler's Nova or Kepler's Star, was a supernova that occurred in the Milky Way, in the constellation Ophiuchus. , it is the last supernova to have been unquestionably observed in our own galaxy, occurring no farther than 6 kiloparsecs or about...
, though it was later topped by Nova Aquilae 1918
V603 Aquilae
V603 Aquilae was a bright nova occurring in Aquila in 1918.It reached a magnitude of −1.4, and was the brightest nova of modern times.-References:* -External links:* * *...
. His timely discoveries enabled spectra to be taken before maximum magnitude was reached.
He constructed his own star charts and discovered 53 variable star
Variable star
A star is classified as variable if its apparent magnitude as seen from Earth changes over time, whether the changes are due to variations in the star's actual luminosity, or to variations in the amount of the star's light that is blocked from reaching Earth...
s, the first being V Cassiopeiae in 1893. He also discovered through research that the 3rd-magnitude star Theta Eridani
Theta Eridani
Theta Eridani is a star in the constellation Eridanus. It has the traditional name Acamar from the Arabic آخِر النَّهْر Ākhir an-nahr which means "the end of the river". Historically, Acamar represented the end of the constellation Eridanus. Now that distinction is held by the star Achernar, a...
had been described as 1st-magnitude by Ptolemy
Ptolemy
Claudius Ptolemy , was a Roman citizen of Egypt who wrote in Greek. He was a mathematician, astronomer, geographer, astrologer, and poet of a single epigram in the Greek Anthology. He lived in Egypt under Roman rule, and is believed to have been born in the town of Ptolemais Hermiou in the...
and al-Sufi.
For his nova discoveries he won the Jackson-Gwilt Medal
Jackson-Gwilt Medal
The Jackson-Gwilt Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society has been awarded regularly since 1897 for the invention, improvement, or development of astronomical instrumentation or techniques; for achievement in observational astronomy; or for achievement in research into the history of astronomy.The...
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...
in 1902.
He left Edinburgh for good in 1904 in search of better observing conditions. He claimed to have discovered another nova in Cygnus
Cygnus (constellation)
Cygnus is a northern constellation lying on the plane of the Milky Way. Its name is the Latinized Hellenic word for swan. One of the most recognizable constellations of the northern summer and autumn, it features a prominent asterism known as the Northern Cross...
in 1923, but this could not be independently confirmed, and it is possible that it was a flare star
Flare star
A flare star is a variable star that can undergo unpredictable dramatic increases in brightness for a few minutes. It is believed that the flares on flare stars are analogous to solar flares in that they are due to magnetic reconnection in the atmospheres of the stars. The brightness increase is...
.
External links
- Thomas David Anderson - Watcher of the Skies by Rev Dr Hector Macpherson Jnr at www.astronomyedinburgh.org