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'''William Herbert Steavenson''' (26 April 1894 &ndash; 23 September 1975) was an English amateur [[astronomer]].<ref name="obit_qjras">{{cite journal
'''William Herbert Steavenson''' [[Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society|FRAS]] (1894 &ndash; 1975) was an English amateur [[astronomer]].<ref name="obit_qjras">{{cite journal
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W. H. Steavenson was born in [[Quenington]], [[Gloucestershire]], [[England]], where his father was the Anglican vicar. He lost the vision in his right eye in a childhood accident. The family later moved to [[Cheltenham]].<ref name="obit_qjras"/>
W. H. Steavenson was born in [[Quenington]], [[Gloucestershire]], [[England]], on 26 April 1894 where his father was an Anglican vicar. He lost the vision in his right eye in a childhood accident. The family later moved to [[Cheltenham]].<ref name="obit_qjras"/>


Steavenson developed an interest in astronomy as a child after receiving a small folding telescope as a gift. A little later he was given a larger telescope and experimented with photographing star fields using a camera attached to the telescope. In September 1911, while still a schoolboy at [[Cheltenham College]], he independently discovered the [[comet]] [[C/1911 S2]], but unfortunately for him he did not check his photograph quickly enough and credit went to [[Ferdinand Quénisset]]. Nevertheless, he was elected a Fellow of the [[Royal Astronomical Society]] in January 1912 whilst still at school. He is believed to have been the youngest Fellow.<ref name="obit_qjras"/>
Steavenson developed an interest in astronomy as a child after receiving a small folding telescope as a gift. A little later he was given a larger telescope and experimented with photographing star fields using a camera attached to the telescope. In September 1911, while still a schoolboy at [[Cheltenham College]], he independently discovered the [[comet]] [[C/1911 S2]], but unfortunately for him he did not check his photograph quickly enough and credit went to [[Ferdinand Quénisset]]. Nevertheless, he was elected a Fellow of the [[Royal Astronomical Society]] on 12 January 1912 whilst still at school. He is believed to have been the youngest Fellow.<ref name="obit_qjras"/> Steavenson joined the [[British Astronomical Association]] on 28 May 1913.<ref>{{Cite web|title=1913JBAA...23..407. Page 407|url=http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1913JBAA...23..407.|access-date=2021-06-11|website=articles.adsabs.harvard.edu}}</ref>


He chose medicine as his profession and became a surgeon, but pursued astronomy his entire life and was a skilled observer. He moved to London to study at [[Guy's Hospital]], setting up home at [[West Norwood]]. He subsequently practised medicine there as a family doctor. He erected there an observatory with 15-inch (38-cm) aperture [[reflecting telescope]]. He concentrated on [[variable star]]s, [[planet]]s and their [[natural satellite|satellite]]s, and [[comet]]s, and also observed the remnants of old [[nova]]e like [[GK Persei|Nova Persei 1901]]. He later set up a 20.5-inch (52-cm) aperture reflector.<ref name="obit_qjras"/>
He chose medicine as his profession and became a surgeon, but pursued astronomy his entire life and was a skilled observer. He moved to London to study at [[Guy's Hospital]], setting up home at [[West Norwood]]. He subsequently practised medicine there as a family doctor. He erected there an observatory with 15-inch (38-cm) aperture [[reflecting telescope]]. He concentrated on [[variable star]]s, [[planet]]s and their [[natural satellite|satellite]]s, and [[comet]]s, and also observed the remnants of old [[nova]]e like [[GK Persei|Nova Persei 1901]]. He later set up a 20.5-inch (52-cm) aperture reflector.<ref name="obit_qjras"/>


Steavenson studied how the human eye operates, particularly at the low-light levels encountered in visual astronomy. He measured the diameter of the pupil of a dark-adapted eye to be 1/3 inch (8mm), which was larger than the figure that was believed at that time.<ref name="obit_qjras"/>
Steavenson studied how the human eye operates, particularly at the low-light levels encountered in visual astronomy. He measured the diameter of the pupil of a dark-adapted eye to be {{convert|1/3|in|mm}}, which was larger than the figure that was believed at that time.<ref name="obit_qjras"/>


Steavenson also studied the optics of telescopes. He assessed the image quality provided by several large refracting telescopes.<ref name="obit_qjras"/>
Steavenson also studied the optics of telescopes. He assessed the image quality provided by several large refracting telescopes.<ref name="obit_qjras"/>
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He moved to work as a family doctor in Cheltenham during the Second World War. He then moved to [[Cambridge]], where he had a new 30-inch (76-cm) reflector erected in the grounds of the [[Cambridge Observatory]] and used it for visual observations.<ref name="obit_qjras"/>
He moved to work as a family doctor in Cheltenham during the Second World War. He then moved to [[Cambridge]], where he had a new 30-inch (76-cm) reflector erected in the grounds of the [[Cambridge Observatory]] and used it for visual observations.<ref name="obit_qjras"/>


During 1957&ndash;1959 he served as [[President of the Royal Astronomical Society|president]] of the [[Royal Astronomical Society]], one of the few amateur astronomers to do so in the twentieth century.<ref name="obit_qjras"/> He was also [[Gresham Professor of Astronomy|Professor of Astronomy]] at [[Gresham College]], and president of the [[British Astronomical Association]] from 1926 to 1928.
During 1957&ndash;1959 he served as [[president of the Royal Astronomical Society]], one of the few amateur astronomers to do so in the twentieth century.<ref name="obit_qjras"/> He was also [[Gresham Professor of Astronomy|Professor of Astronomy]] at [[Gresham College]], and president of the British Astronomical Association from 1926 to 1928. He directed its Saturn Section 1917–1919, Mars Section 1922-1930 and its Method of Observation Section 1932–1961.


He worked for 30 years as astronomy correspondent for The Times and won the [[Jackson-Gwilt Medal]] of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1928.
He worked for 30 years as astronomy correspondent for The Times and won the [[Jackson-Gwilt Medal]] of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1928.


W. H. Steavenson spent his last years living with family in [[South Marston]], [[Wiltshire]]. He died in 1975.<ref name="obit_qjras"/>
W. H. Steavenson spent his last years living with family in [[South Marston]], [[Wiltshire]], where he died on 23 September 1975.<ref name="obit_qjras"/>

⚫
==References==
⚫
{{reflist}}


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Gresham Professor of Astronomy]]
* [[Gresham Professor of Astronomy]]

⚫
==References==
⚫
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
===Obituaries===
===Obituaries===
* [http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?bibcode=1977QJRAS..18..147.&amp;db_key=AST QJRAS '''18''' (1977) 147]
* [http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-journal_query?volume=18&plate_select=NO&page=147&plate=&cover=&journal=QJRAS QJRAS '''18''' (1977) 147]
* JBAA '''86''' (1976) 386&ndash; 390
* [http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-journal_query?volume=86&plate_select=NO&page=386&plate=&cover=&journal=JBAA. JBAA '''86''' (1976) 386&ndash; 390]


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Steavenson, William Herbert}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Steavenson, William Herbert}}
[[Category:1894 births]]
[[Category:1894 births]]
[[Category:1975 deaths]]
[[Category:1975 deaths]]
[[Category:People educated at Cheltenham College]]
[[Category:People educated at Cheltenham College]]
[[Category:English astronomers]]
[[Category:20th-century British astronomers]]
[[Category:Presidents of the Royal Astronomical Society]]
[[Category:Presidents of the Royal Astronomical Society]]
[[Category:Professors of Gresham College]]
[[Category:Academics of Gresham College]]

Latest revision as of 22:32, 9 November 2023

William Herbert Steavenson FRAS (1894 – 1975) was an English amateur astronomer.[1][2]

W. H. Steavenson was born in Quenington, Gloucestershire, England, on 26 April 1894 where his father was an Anglican vicar. He lost the vision in his right eye in a childhood accident. The family later moved to Cheltenham.[1]

Steavenson developed an interest in astronomy as a child after receiving a small folding telescope as a gift. A little later he was given a larger telescope and experimented with photographing star fields using a camera attached to the telescope. In September 1911, while still a schoolboy at Cheltenham College, he independently discovered the comet C/1911 S2, but unfortunately for him he did not check his photograph quickly enough and credit went to Ferdinand Quénisset. Nevertheless, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society on 12 January 1912 whilst still at school. He is believed to have been the youngest Fellow.[1] Steavenson joined the British Astronomical Association on 28 May 1913.[3]

He chose medicine as his profession and became a surgeon, but pursued astronomy his entire life and was a skilled observer. He moved to London to study at Guy's Hospital, setting up home at West Norwood. He subsequently practised medicine there as a family doctor. He erected there an observatory with 15-inch (38-cm) aperture reflecting telescope. He concentrated on variable stars, planets and their satellites, and comets, and also observed the remnants of old novae like Nova Persei 1901. He later set up a 20.5-inch (52-cm) aperture reflector.[1]

Steavenson studied how the human eye operates, particularly at the low-light levels encountered in visual astronomy. He measured the diameter of the pupil of a dark-adapted eye to be 1⁄3 inch (8.5 mm), which was larger than the figure that was believed at that time.[1]

Steavenson also studied the optics of telescopes. He assessed the image quality provided by several large refracting telescopes.[1]

Steavenson became noted as a historian of astronomy. He studied the collection of instruments belonging to the Herschel family at Slough, and became an authority on the work of the Herschels.[1]

He moved to work as a family doctor in Cheltenham during the Second World War. He then moved to Cambridge, where he had a new 30-inch (76-cm) reflector erected in the grounds of the Cambridge Observatory and used it for visual observations.[1]

During 1957–1959 he served as president of the Royal Astronomical Society, one of the few amateur astronomers to do so in the twentieth century.[1] He was also Professor of Astronomy at Gresham College, and president of the British Astronomical Association from 1926 to 1928. He directed its Saturn Section 1917–1919, Mars Section 1922-1930 and its Method of Observation Section 1932–1961.

He worked for 30 years as astronomy correspondent for The Times and won the Jackson-Gwilt Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1928.

W. H. Steavenson spent his last years living with family in South Marston, Wiltshire, where he died on 23 September 1975.[1]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Dewhirst, David W. (1977). "William Herbert Steavenson". Quarterly Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society. 18 (1). Royal Astronomical Society: 147–154. Bibcode:1977QJRAS..18..147D. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  2. ^ Fry, R. M. (1976). "William Herbert Steavenson, 1894–1975". Journal of the British Astronomical Association. 86 (5). British Astronomical Association: 386–390. Bibcode:1976JBAA...86..386F. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  3. ^ "1913JBAA...23..407. Page 407". articles.adsabs.harvard.edu. Retrieved 11 June 2021.

External links[edit]

Obituaries[edit]

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