Dorrit Hoffleit

Yale contributions to meteoric astronomy

Abstract Until 1910 Yale University was more active in research on meteors than any other institution in America. A brief introduction describes the work carried out at other observatories in the United States. Then follow accounts of the Yale activities, starting with speculations on a spectacular fireball of 1742, the Weston fall of meteorites in 1802, and numerous investigations on “shooting stars,” especially by D. Olmsted, E. C. Herrick, H. A. Newton, and W. L. Elkin. These astronomers contributed significantly to the evolution of understanding of meteoric phenomena, from early beliefs that meteors originated in the earths atmosphere, to theories that fireballs were earth circling satellites, to our current conceptions of the relation between comets, asteroids, and meteors. Incidentally it may be noted that four of the investigators also became presidents of Yale College: Clap (1739–1766), Stiles (1778–1795), Day (1817–1847), and Hadley (1899–1921).

The Astronomical Journal at Yale: In Context with Before and After

When the Astronomical Journal was founded by B. A. Gould, Jr., in 1849, the major topics of research were the solar system, celestial mechanics, and astrometry. During the 1880s the advent of dry-plate photography played a significant role in introducing other preferred areas for research, especially spectroscopy, astrophysics, multicolor photometry, and galaxies. In 1941, the Journal came under the jurisdiction of the American Astronomical Society, and Yale became its editorial headquarters. A comparison of the numbers of papers in the newer branches relative to the total numbers of papers published either in the Astronomical Journal or in other publications of the American Astronomical Society shows the steady increase of interest in the newer fields, regardless of the special fields of interest of the Yale editors.

The evolution of the Henry Draper memorial

The name Draper is associated with pioneering achievements in photography and spectroscopy. John William Draper (1811-82), a prominent physician, is, however, best remembered for his investigations in photochemistry, photography, and spectroscopy) He was the first to take a daguerreotype portrait with the subjects eyes open; he made the first successful photograph of the moon in 1840; and somewhat later photographed the spectrum of the sun, being the first to reveal the ultraviolet and infrared portions. He also identified the lines in the solar spectrum due to the earths atmosphere. One of his three sons, Henry Draper, M.D. (1837-82), followed closely in his fathers footsteps. Also prominent in the medical profession, he, too, is better remembered for his achievements in spectrum photography, especially for having been the first to obtain a photograph of a stellar spectrum showing lines -the spectrum of Vega in 1872. 5 Earlier, in 1863, Sir William Huggins in England had made the attempt, but his spectrum showed no lines, only a continuum. 3