JACKSON, John [CBE; FRS]Professional Astronomer Born: 1887, Paisley, Scotland. |
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| Famous for: Chief Assistant at the Royal Greenwich Observatory 1914-1933 (released for war work 1917-1919) Director of Cape Observatory between 1933 and 1950. . Summary: |
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| History: “John Jackson, a Scot from Paisley who had been educated at Glasgow University and at Trinity College, Cambridge, took over the reins from Spencer Jones. He too, had been senior Chief Assistant at Greenwich; and like Hough, he was to suffer the staff disruption caused by years of war. In spite of this, his term of office was noted for its production of a mass of valuable work. Jackson’s special concern was the stellar parallax programme; he undertook the necessary reductions and observations personally, at a time when two thirds of his staff were “up north’ ‘. Jackson retired in 1950, having measured the distances of over 1 600 southern stars with greatly improved accuracy and having advanced or completed all the major projects which had been going on at the time of his appointment”. [Copied from Moore, p. 82.] By the time he retired, he completed the proper motion work for the Astrographic Zone. [Laing, p. 16.] The Cape Photographic Catalogue for 1950.0, the CPC 50 was well under way. [Laing, p. 16.] . Career: 1914 – 1933: Junior Chief assistant at Royal Greenwich Observatory. (Senior Chief Assistant was Spencer Jones) His main interest at Greenwich were double stars, meridian observations and the time service. [Laing, p. 16.] Senior Chief Assistant at Royal Greenwich Observatory. 1933 – 1950: Director of Cape Observatory. His chief assistants were: H. Horrocks 1933 – 1935. R. H. Stoy 1935 – 1950. 1950: Retire. Personal: 1887: Born at Paisley in Scotland. Educated at Glasgow University & Trinity College, Cambridge. 1950: Retire 1958: Died in London. |
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Link to the Telescope Manufacturers. |
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Link to the Main Bibliography Section and more information about Sources. |
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| Remaining Artifacts: . Bibliography: Laing, J.D. (ed.), The Royal Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope 1820 – 1970 Sesquicentennial Offerings, p. 16. Moore, P. & Collins, P., Astronomy in Southern Africa, p. 82. (General Source) Smits, P., A Brief History of Astronomy in Southern Africa. (Unpublished) . By Jackson: |
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| Related Internal Links: Royal Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope. . Related External Links: Historical Astronomical Posts in Britain and Ireland Fellows of the Royal Society |
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Gallery
John Jackson.
Source: Laing
Source: Laing