Lewis Swift

Celebrated Comet Hunter and the People's Astronomer

Nonfiction, Science & Nature, Science, Physics, Astronomy, General Physics
Cover of the book Lewis Swift by Gary W. Kronk, Springer International Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Gary W. Kronk ISBN: 9783319637211
Publisher: Springer International Publishing Publication: September 19, 2017
Imprint: Springer Language: English
Author: Gary W. Kronk
ISBN: 9783319637211
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Publication: September 19, 2017
Imprint: Springer
Language: English

This biography covers the life of Lewis Swift (1820-1913), who discovered 13 comets and nearly 1,200 other deep sky objects. All 13 comets found by Swift now bear his name, including three periodic comets with periods of 6 years (11P/Tempel-Swift-LINEAR), 9 years (64P/Swift-Gehrels), and 133 years (109P/Swift-Tuttle).

Swift's enthusiasm and success as an amateur astronomer helped make him famous in the United States. With the help of others, Swift was able to buy a 16-inch refractor, the third largest telescope in the United States at the time. Hulbert Harrington Warner built "Warner Observatory" to house this telescope. As a prolific writer and lecturer, Swift's stories appeared in newspapers and magazines, while his lectures showed that he was able to explain anything in a way that everyone could understand. 

When Warner went broke during the "Panic of 1893," Swift was forced to leave his home. Almost two dozen invitations arrived from around the United States asking him to bring his telescope to their city, and he eventually accepted the invitation of Californian Thaddeus Sobieski Constantin Lowe. 

This book highlights Swift's valuable contributions to astronomy before failing eyesight forced him to give up this profession. In addition to detailing Swift's life, biographical material is also provided for a number of individuals who were influenced by Swift. This includes his son, Edward, who was discovering deep sky objects as a teenager. 

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

This biography covers the life of Lewis Swift (1820-1913), who discovered 13 comets and nearly 1,200 other deep sky objects. All 13 comets found by Swift now bear his name, including three periodic comets with periods of 6 years (11P/Tempel-Swift-LINEAR), 9 years (64P/Swift-Gehrels), and 133 years (109P/Swift-Tuttle).

Swift's enthusiasm and success as an amateur astronomer helped make him famous in the United States. With the help of others, Swift was able to buy a 16-inch refractor, the third largest telescope in the United States at the time. Hulbert Harrington Warner built "Warner Observatory" to house this telescope. As a prolific writer and lecturer, Swift's stories appeared in newspapers and magazines, while his lectures showed that he was able to explain anything in a way that everyone could understand. 

When Warner went broke during the "Panic of 1893," Swift was forced to leave his home. Almost two dozen invitations arrived from around the United States asking him to bring his telescope to their city, and he eventually accepted the invitation of Californian Thaddeus Sobieski Constantin Lowe. 

This book highlights Swift's valuable contributions to astronomy before failing eyesight forced him to give up this profession. In addition to detailing Swift's life, biographical material is also provided for a number of individuals who were influenced by Swift. This includes his son, Edward, who was discovering deep sky objects as a teenager. 

More books from Springer International Publishing

Cover of the book Landscape and the Environment in Hollywood Film by Gary W. Kronk
Cover of the book Geometric and Harmonic Analysis on Homogeneous Spaces and Applications by Gary W. Kronk
Cover of the book Romantic Childhood, Romantic Heirs by Gary W. Kronk
Cover of the book Trajectory of Land Reform in Post-Colonial African States by Gary W. Kronk
Cover of the book Food and Masculinity in Contemporary Autobiographies by Gary W. Kronk
Cover of the book Ecological Processes at Marine Fronts by Gary W. Kronk
Cover of the book Algebra for Cryptologists by Gary W. Kronk
Cover of the book Understanding Evidence-Based Rheumatology by Gary W. Kronk
Cover of the book Innovative Methods in Media and Communication Research by Gary W. Kronk
Cover of the book The Scottish Experience in Asia, c.1700 to the Present by Gary W. Kronk
Cover of the book Collective Leadership in Soviet Politics by Gary W. Kronk
Cover of the book Probability and Statistics for Computer Science by Gary W. Kronk
Cover of the book Nanobiotechnology Applications in Plant Protection by Gary W. Kronk
Cover of the book Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Genocide and Memory by Gary W. Kronk
Cover of the book The New Martians by Gary W. Kronk
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy