Astronomer Quarter 2 Essay

Rania Shafie

Period 1

1-5-10

Mr. Perceival Astronomy

The English Astronomer William Lassell was born on June 18th, 1799 in Bolton, Lancashire. A self made man and a very accomplished astronomer, Lassell discovered several moons as well as developed telescopes over the course of his astronomy career. His career as an astronomer came about through his own personal interest. However, he didn’t begin his career as an astronomer until he struck gold with a beer brewing business. After already becoming accomplished in the brewing business, he was able to indulge in his astronomical interests.

The first step in starting off Lassell’s astronomy career was when he constructed an observatory near Liverpool. This is where he was able to delve further into his interests for reflectors. He preferred large reflectors, and in 1844 William developed his own. It was a twenty four inch telescope which Lassell used himself. Using this telescope, Lassell discovered the first moon of Neptune, Triton. He made this discovery amazingly only seventeen days after Neptune itself was discovered. Other telescopes which he is known to have constructed include a forty eight inch reflector which he used to observe as well as record positions and qualities of several nebulae in Malta. The year was 1855, and he stationed it in Malta due to the clear observing conditions.

Further accomplishments by Lassell include the discovery of several moons, as well as winning an astronomy award. In 1846 William discovered Hyperion, which is a moon of Saturn, as well as the crepe ring of Saturn. In 1851, five years later, Lassell discovered two moons of Uranus, Ariel and Umbriel. He discovered these moons during the same time he created the forty eight inch reflector, in Malta. In 1849, after discovering Triton and the moon of Saturn, Lassell won the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society. Later, in 1870, Lassell served as the president for the Royal Astronomical Society.

Lassell died in 1880 in Maidenhead, leaving a fortune of what today amounts to millions behind. However, William can still be remembered through the astronomical objects which were named after him. These include a crater on the moon as well as a crater on Mars. On top of this, one of Neptune’s rings is also named after William.



Works Cited

Works Cited

William Lassell. Web. 5 Jan. 2010. .

William Lassell. Web. 5 Jan. 2010. .