Edmond Halley: Difference between revisions
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'''Edmond''', or Edmund, '''Halley''' ([[1656]] - [[1742]]) published papers on the [[Solar System]] and [[sun spot]]s whilst still an undergraduate at Queen's College, [[University of Oxford]]. On leaving [[Oxford]] in [[1676]] he visited the island of [[St Helena]] where his additions to the star map known to European science earned him comparison with [[Tycho Brahe]]. |
'''Edmond''', or Edmund, '''Halley''' ([[1656]] - [[1742]]) was an english astronomer and scientist. He published papers on the [[Solar System]] and [[sun spot]]s whilst still an undergraduate at Queen's College, [[University of Oxford]]. On leaving [[Oxford]] in [[1676]] he visited the island of [[St Helena]] where his additions to the star map known to European science earned him comparison with [[Tycho Brahe]]. Halley was one of the few trusted friends of [[Newton|Isaac Newton]] and had an important role in convincing him to write down the ''[[Principia Mathematica Philosophiae Naturalis|Principia]]'', the scientific milestone book where Newton exposed his theory of [[Gravitation]]. |
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In [[1720]] he was appointed [[Astronomer Royal]], a position which he held until his death. |
In [[1720]] he was appointed [[Astronomer Royal]], a position which he held until his death. |
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Revision as of 01:49, 12 April 2002
Edmond, or Edmund, Halley (1656 - 1742) was an english astronomer and scientist. He published papers on the Solar System and sun spots whilst still an undergraduate at Queen's College, University of Oxford. On leaving Oxford in 1676 he visited the island of St Helena where his additions to the star map known to European science earned him comparison with Tycho Brahe. Halley was one of the few trusted friends of Isaac Newton and had an important role in convincing him to write down the Principia, the scientific milestone book where Newton exposed his theory of Gravitation.
In 1720 he was appointed Astronomer Royal, a position which he held until his death.
He is best remembered for his prediction of the return in 1758 of the comet that now bears his name (see Halley's Comet), though he was also the outstanding English mathematician and physicist of his generation, as well as a pioneering geophysicist and meteorologist.