Tag Archives: Specola Guestbook

Specola Guestbook | October 14, 1924: Edward Phillips S.J.

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This entry is part 77 of 77 in the series Specola Guestbook

Since its founding in 1891, many people have passed through the doors of the Vatican Observatory.  A quick perusal of our guestbook reveals several Names, including Popes, Nobel laureates, astronauts, actors, and saints. Today’s guestbook entry is from October 14, 1924, when Edward Phillips made a visit. Next to his name, Fr. Edward C. Phillips S.J.  (1877-1952) wrote, “Woodstock, Maryland, U.S.A.”  At the time of his visit, he was a professor of mathematics and astronomy at Woodstock College, and also dean. This was one of at least two visits–he also signed the guestbook on Feb 9, 1938. In 1925, he would become director of the Georgetown Observatory, where he would remain until 1928, when he would be named Provincial (major superior) of the Maryland-New York Province of the Society of Jesus. He would serve as Provincial until 1935, after which he would return to Woodstock College for a time. He also served as treasurer of the New York Province (after … Continue reading →

Specola Guestbook | June 16, 1924: Knut Lundmark and Sten Asklöf

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This entry is part 76 of 77 in the series Specola Guestbook

Since its founding in 1891, many people have passed through the doors of the Vatican Observatory.  A quick perusal of our guestbook reveals several Names, including Popes, Nobel laureates, astronauts, actors, and saints. Today’s guestbook entry is from June 16, 1924, when Knut Lundmark and Sten Asklöf made a visit. Next to his name, Knut Emil Lundmark (1889-1958) wrote, “Ph.D., Upsala, Sweden.” He had completed his Ph.D. at Uppsala in 1920 and subsequently worked at the Lick and Mount Wilson observatoies. In 1929 he became director of the observatory at Lund University in Lund, Sweden. Lundmark’s scientific work was primarily concerned with galaxies.  He measured the distance to the Andromeda Galaxy in 1919 using  novae as standard candles. [Note: while certain types of supernovae function well as standard candles, novae in general vary in maximum brightness and do not serve the purpose well.] He measured a distance of about 650,000 ly (compared to the modern value of 2.5 million ly), which … Continue reading →

Specola Guestbook | October 17, 1923: Julien Péridier

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This entry is part 75 of 77 in the series Specola Guestbook

Since its founding in 1891, many people have passed through the doors of the Vatican Observatory.  A quick perusal of our guestbook reveals several Names, including Popes, Nobel laureates, astronauts, actors, and saints. Today’s guestbook entry is from October 17, 1923, when Julien Péridier made a visit. Next to his name, Julien Péridier F.R.A.S. (1882-1967) wrote, “Ingénieur E.C.P. 16 Rue Cassette, Paris [apt] K.”  (E.C.P. is probably “École Centrale Paris,” where Péridier studied.) Péridier was an electrical engineer who worked primarily on public transportation systems in Paris. He was also an avid amateur astronomer. In 1933, he would found an observatory at Le Houga. After his death, he willed the instruments from the observatory and his library to the McDonald Observatory (University of Texas). In 1959 the Le Houga observatory was in a prime location to observe the occultation of the star Regulus by the planet Venus.  Using photoelectric photometry equipment, the team were able to produce a good light … Continue reading →

Specola Guestbook | July 14, 1923: Fr. Ricardo Cirera, S.J.

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This entry is part 74 of 77 in the series Specola Guestbook

Since its founding in 1891, many people have passed through the doors of the Vatican Observatory.  A quick perusal of our guestbook reveals several Names, including Popes, Nobel laureates, astronauts, actors, and saints. Today’s guestbook entry is from July 14, 1923, when Ricardo Cirera made a visit. Next to his name, Fr. Ricardo Cirera Salse, S.J. (1864-1932) wrote, “Fondador del Observatorio del Ebro” (Founder of the Ebro Observatory). From 1888 to 1893, he was in charge of the magnetic section of the Manila Observatory, where he conducted the first geomagnetic survey of the Philippines. He measured and tracked variations in the Earth’s magnetic field around the Philippines. In 1904, he founded the Ebro Observatory in Tortosa, Spain. He also directed the observatory from 1904 to 1919. The observatory was dedicated to studying the connection between meteorological phenomena and solar activity, terrestrial magnetism, seismic activity, and other geophysical activity. He founded the journal Ibérica and edited it from 1914-1917.

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Specola Guestbook | April 18, 1923: T. E. Espin and William Milburn

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This entry is part 73 of 77 in the series Specola Guestbook

Since its founding in 1891, many people have passed through the doors of the Vatican Observatory.  A quick perusal of our guestbook reveals several Names, including Popes, Nobel laureates, astronauts, actors, and saints. Today’s guestbook entry is from April 18, 1923, when Thomas Espin and William Milburn made a visit. Next to his name, Reverend Thomas Henry Espinell Compton Espin FRAS (1858-1934) wrote, “Wolsingham Observatory, Tow Law[,] Co. Durham England.” He was an Anglican minister and avid astronomer who established an observatory at Wolsingham in 1885. The observatory was transferred to Tow Law when he became curate there in 1888. His scientific work involved surveying the skies and cataloging variable and double stars.  He surveyed every star below 9th magnitude, which numbered more than 100,000. He discovered thousands of double stars. He was a member of the IAU commission on double stars. He invented several astronomical instruments, including a variable eyepiece and a method for making illuminated markings in the … Continue reading →

Specola Guestbook | April 12, 1923: Walter and Willoughby Cady

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This entry is part 72 of 77 in the series Specola Guestbook

Since its founding in 1891, many people have passed through the doors of the Vatican Observatory.  A quick perusal of our guestbook reveals several Names, including Popes, Nobel laureates, astronauts, actors, and saints. Today’s guestbook entry is from April 12, 1923, when Walter Cady made a visit with his son Willoughby. Next to his name, Walter Guyton Cady (1874-1974) wrote, “Middletown, Conn, U.S.A.” He was an electrical engineer and physicist.  He was a professor oat Wesleyan University in Middletown CT. In 1921, he developed the first quartz crystal oscillator, a piezoelectric device that became the timekeeping basis for quartz clocks and watches. As part of his research, he worked to develop international frequency standards. What was he doing in Rome in 1923?  That year, he was comparing the frequency standards of various countries: England, France, Italy, and the USA.  This apparently involved travel to the respective countries. In 1932 he served as president of the Institute of Radio Engineers. He … Continue reading →

Specola Guestbook | March 27, 1923: Arthur Eddington

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This entry is part 71 of 77 in the series Specola Guestbook

Since its founding in 1891, many people have passed through the doors of the Vatican Observatory.  A quick perusal of our guestbook reveals several Names, including Popes, Nobel laureates, astronauts, actors, and saints. Today’s guestbook entry is from March 27, 1922, when Sir Arthur Eddington made a visit. Next to his name, Sir Arthur Stanley Eddington OM FRS (1882-1944) wrote, “Observatory, Cambridge.” Eddington was chief assistant to the Astronomer Royal at the Royal Greenwich Observatory from 1906 until 1907, when he won the Smith Prize. He became director of the Cambridge Observatory in 1914. Eddington is perhaps one of the most notable astronomers of his age. In 1919, he and Edwin Cottingham led an expedition to the island of Principe to observe a solar eclipse. Their goal: to measure the apparent shift of the position of stars near the solar disk due to the bending of starlight predicted by Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity.  This experiment is considered one of … Continue reading →

Specola Guestbook | May 10-13, 1922: IAU 1st General Assembly part 12

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This entry is part 70 of 77 in the series Specola Guestbook

Since its founding in 1891, many people have passed through the doors of the Vatican Observatory.  A quick perusal of our guestbook reveals several Names, including Popes, Nobel laureates, astronauts, actors, and saints. For the past few weeks, we have been highlighting visitors who came on the occasion of the first General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union. We have finally reached the last installment related to this event. Today’s visitors came between May 10 and 13, 1922. They are: Sotero Prieto, Joseph Baldwin, Paul Stroobant, Albertus Nijland, Hendrik Jan Heuvelink, and Count de la Baume Pluvinel. That red line underneath de la Baume Pluvinel indicates the end of visits related to the IAU meeting. Sotero Prieto Next to his name, Sotero Prieto Rodriguez (1884-1935) wrote, “(Profesor de Matemáticas – Universidad de Mexico) Tacubaya, Mexique” (Professor of Mathematics, University of Mexico, Tacubaya Mexico) In 1912, as a professor in the National School of Higher Studies (later the National University of … Continue reading →

Specola Guestbook | May 10, 1922: IAU 1st General Assembly part 11

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This entry is part 69 of 77 in the series Specola Guestbook

Since its founding in 1891, many people have passed through the doors of the Vatican Observatory.  A quick perusal of our guestbook reveals several Names, including Popes, Nobel laureates, astronauts, actors, and saints. For the past few weeks, we have been highlighting visitors who came on the occasion of the first General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union.    Today’s visitors all came on May 10, 1922. They are George Dodwell, Jean Bosler, Jules Jaumotte, Henri Deslandres, and Joaquín Gallo. George F. Dodwell Next to his name, George Frederick Dodwell FRAS (1879-1963) wrote, “Adelaide S. Australia.” Dodwell, an Australian state astronomer from the Adelaide Astronomical Observatory, was accompanied by his wife, Annie Dodwell (also an astronomer), who also signed the guestbook. Dodwell is credited with using radio time signals to establish the 141st and 129th meridian lines that mark the borders between various states in Australia. He also photographed the 1922 eclipse that helped confirm Einstein’s general theory of relativity. … Continue reading →

Specola Guestbook | May 10, 1922: IAU 1st General Assembly part 10

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This entry is part 68 of 77 in the series Specola Guestbook

Since its founding in 1891, many people have passed through the doors of the Vatican Observatory.  A quick perusal of our guestbook reveals several Names, including Popes, Nobel laureates, astronauts, actors, and saints. For the past few weeks, we have been highlighting visitors who came on the occasion of the first General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union.    Today’s visitors all came on May 10, 1922. They are Annie Dodwell, Frank Littell, Cesare Bardeloni, Armand Baar, and Gustave Ferrié. M. P. (or O.) Stroobant There is a “M.P. Stroobant” who signed, possibly the spouse or family member of Paul Stroobant who signed on the next page. I have not been able to find any references for this person. Annie Dodwell Next to her name, Annie Louisa Virginia Dodwell (1870-1924) wrote, “Adelaide, South Australia.” She was an Australian government astronomer and worked with her husband, George Dodwell, who was also a career government astronomer for Australia. Her husband (an IAU … Continue reading →

Specola Guestbook | May 10, 1922: IAU 1st General Assembly part 9

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This entry is part 67 of 77 in the series Specola Guestbook

Since its founding in 1891, many people have passed through the doors of the Vatican Observatory.  A quick perusal of our guestbook reveals several Names, including Popes, nobel laureates, astronauts, actors, and saints. For the past few weeks, we have been highlighting visitors who came on the occasion of the first General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union.    Today’s visitors all came on May 10, 1922. They are Jacques Liouville, Jules Baillaud, Oliver Justin-Lee, and Abbé Chauve-Bertrand. Jacques Liouville Next to his name, Dr. Jacques Liouville (1879-1960) wrote, “Directeur de’Institut Scientifique Chérifien (Maroc)” (“Director of the Chérifien Scientific Institute (Morocco)”). Dr. Liouville was the first director of the Chérifien Institute, which he directed from 1920 until 1937.  His areas of specialty were medicine and marine biology. He was also an explorer who participated in two antarctic expeditions in 1908 and 1910. These expeditions resulted in a study of Antarctic cetaceans. He was the son of the prominent French politician … Continue reading →

Specola Guestbook | May 10, 1922: IAU 1st General Assembly part 8 – Delvosal, Armellini, Ferri, Roussilhe, and Krassowski

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This entry is part 66 of 77 in the series Specola Guestbook

Since its founding in 1891, many people have passed through the doors of the Vatican Observatory.  A quick perusal of our guestbook reveals several Names, including Popes, nobel laureates, astronauts, actors, and saints. For the past few weeks, we have been highlighting visitors who came on the occasion of the first General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union.    Today’s visitors all came on May 10, 1922. They are Jules Delvosal, Giuseppe Armellini, Francesco Ferri, Henri Roussilhe, and Jan Krassowski. J. Delvosal Next to his name, Jules Joseph Désiré Delvosal (1876-1960) wrote, “Uccle (Belgique).” This is a peculiar case where I have been unable to find any significant biographical information about the person, but his name appears in various publications, including the Transactions of the International Astronomical Union. He was an astronomer at Uccle, and professor at the Collège Notre Dame in Antwerp, and he directed Uccle’s involvement in the Carte du Ciel project. He was author of a 1905 … Continue reading →