With the resurgence of interest in astrometry, the contributionof David Gill to astronomy is due for a re-assessment a century after he died.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, a version of a presentation at the International Conference on the History of Physics held at Trinity College, Cambridge, in September 201
Gill abandoned a successful career as a clock and watchmaker. ]CAPE OF GOOD HOPE ROYAL OBSERVATORY PAPERS IN THE ARCHIVES OF THE ROYAL GREENWICH OBSERVATORY [JHA 9 pp.74 – 75]Gill Medal.
Gill, Sir David — Scottish astronomer born June 12, 1843, Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scot. Overall David Gill was highly influential, respectedand well liked.
David Gill's collaboration was desired by leading astronomers of the day and he was the only southern hemisphere representative on the hugely important Conference Internationale des Etoiles Fondamentales of 1896. Sir David Gill, Scottish astronomer known for his measurements of solar and stellar parallax, showing the distances of the Sun and other stars from Earth, and for his early use of photography in mapping the heavens. David Gill was one of the most remarkable astronomers in the history of Southern African Astronomy. Source: Warner, Astronomers Full text of "David Gill, man and astronomer ; memoirs of Sir David Gill, K.C.B., H.M. astronomer (1879-1907) at the Cape of Good Hope" See other formats When Gill took over, the Observatory was outdated. 222. David Gill, man and astronomer ; memoirs of Sir David Gill, K.C.B., H.M. astronomer (1879-1907) at the Cape of Good Hope Item Preview This is the highest award made by the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa.The Archives of this Museum contain extensive correspondence on Museum matters by Sir Thomas Maclear and Sir David Gill, both of whom were Trustees.Sir David Gill. He acquired inthe process the reputation of an expert in precision instrument design. As Her Majesty's Astronomer at the Cape of Good Hope for27 years, David Gill was admired for his prolific contribution to highlyaccurate and trustworthy results. To determine the parallaxes, he perfected the use of the heliometer, a telescope
death of David Gill, the foremost British astronomer in the last quarter of the 19th century and into the 20th century. He set out to modernise the facility and when he retired, the Cape Observatory was one of the finest and best equipped observatories in the world. Sir David Gill FRS (12 June 1843 – 24 January 1914) was a Scottish astronomer who is known for measuring astronomical distances, for astrophotography, … He was an initiator of the biggest multi-national and multi-observatoryproject of the century, taking on the role of President of the InternationalCommission overseeing the Carte du Ciel project. He created with Jacobus Kapteyn the first extensive starcatalogue derived from photographic plates (the CPD), including over 450,000stars. SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM, GOVERNMENT AVENUE, CAPE TOWN [JHA8, p. This paper was given to mark the centenary of the death of David Gill, theforemost British astronomer in the last quarter of the 19th century and intothe 20th century.