Robert Stawell Ball
Sir Robert Stawell Ball ( born July 1, 1840 in Dublin, † 25 November 1913 in Cambridge ) was an Irish astronomer, mathematician and author of popular science books.
Life and work
Robert Stawell Ball was the son of Robert Ball (1802-1857) in Dublin to the world. His father was a scientist and president of the Geological Society of Ireland. Robert Stawell Ball attended school Tarvin Hall, and afterwards studied at Trinity College, Dublin.
In 1865, he became a private tutor for the children of Lawrence Parsons, 4th Earl of Rosse ( 1840-1908 ), for which he got in return access to the telescope and observatory of William Parsons ( 1800-1867 ) in Parsonstown. The telescope of Parsons was the largest of its kind in the world. In this time ball watching several fog objects; he discovered four new spiral nebula. He also helped with mathematical means to make the telescope more precisely.
1867 died William Parsons; Ball was Professor of Mathematics (Professor of Applied Mathematics and Mechanics ) at the " Royal College of Science" at the University of Dublin. In 1874 he was Andrews Professor of Astronomy at the University of Dublin and received at the same time the title of Royal Astronomer of Ireland. He held this position he held until 1898. In 1892 he was appointed Professor of Astronomy and Geometry ( " Lowndean Professor of Astronomy " ) at the University of Cambridge and Director of the Observatory of the University. As a professor of astronomy, he followed the famous astronomer John Couch Adams after (1819-1892), who discovered the planet Neptune. The post he held until his death in 1913.
From 1877 to 1880 he was secretary from 1885 to 1892 elected Vice- President of the Royal Irish Academy. In 1890 he was elected President of the Royal Zoological Society.
Ball wrote a number of successful popular books on astronomy. His main interest was in mathematics; he devoted much of his spare time to his "Screw theory ".
Works
- Experimental Mechanics. In 1871.
- The Theory of Screws: A Study in the Dynamics of a Rigid Body. In 1876.
- A Story of the Heavens. In 1886.
- The Story of the Sun. In 1893.
- A Treatise on the Theory of Screws. , 1900.
- A Treatise on Spherical Astronomy., 1908.
Honors
1873 Ball was appointed a member of the Royal Society of London. In 1886 he was knighted.