William Radcliffe Birt FRAS (1804–1881) was an English amateur astronomer in the 19th century. This photograph, showing Birt with the pier of Victoria Park Observatory in London, was taken in October 1867.
Probably on Herschel's recommendation, Birt became involved with the Kew Observatory in the later 1840s under the Directorship of Francis Ronalds. He analysed and published the latter's detailed atmospheric electricity and meteorological observations. They also worked together on a new design of kite for making meteorological recordings in the upper air. Birt was formally appointed in late 1849 as Ronalds’ assistant but their relationship soured shortly afterwards and Birt was requested by the Kew Committee to leave in mid-1850.[2] In 1850 he published ‘The Hurricane Guide: Being an attempt to Connect the Rotary Gale or Revolving Storm with Atmospheric Waves’.[3] Later, in 1853, he subsequently published a second book a ‘Handbook on the Law of Storms: being a digest of the Principal Facts of Revolving Storms’ a second edition of which appeared in 1879.[4]
Although Birt published some papers on general astronomy,[5][6] he is best remembered for his work in selenography, particularly work published in the Astronomical Register. He was the president of the short lived Selenographical Society.[7] Birt was able to use the Hartwell Observatory for some of his work.[8][9] For the last decade of his life he published a monthly guide to lunar observation.[10] He also published, jointly with the Rev. W. J. B. Richards an introductory series of articles on how to observe the Moon.[11]
^ abBirt, W. R. (1882). "1882MNRAS..42..142B Page 142". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 42: 142. Bibcode:1882MNRAS..42..142B. doi:10.1093/mnras/42.4.142. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
^William Radcliff Birt (1850). The hurricane guide: Being an Attempt to Connect the Rotatory Gale Or Revolving Storm with ... Oxford University. John Murray.
^William Radcliff Birt (1879). Handbook of the law of storms. Oxford University.
^Birt, W. R. (1830). "1830MNRAS...1..192B Page 192". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 1: 192. Bibcode:1830MNRAS...1..192B. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
^Birt, W. R. (1859). "1859MNRAS..20...39B Page 39". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 20: 39. Bibcode:1859MNRAS..20...39B. doi:10.1093/mnras/20.2.39. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
^Birt, W. R. (1861). "1861MNRAS..22....8B Page 8". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 22: 8. Bibcode:1861MNRAS..22....8B. doi:10.1093/mnras/22.1.8. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
^Birt, W. R. (1863). "1863MNRAS..23..224B Page 224". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 23: 224. Bibcode:1863MNRAS..23..224B. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
^Birt, W. R. (1872). "1872AReg...10...27B Page 27". Astronomical Register. 10: 27. Bibcode:1872AReg...10...27B. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
^Richards, J. B.; Birt, W. R. (1880). "1880AReg...18...70R Page 70". Astronomical Register. 18: 70. Bibcode:1880AReg...18...70R. Retrieved 3 September 2023.
william, radcliffe, birt, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, january, 2016, learn, when, remove, this, message, f. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations January 2016 Learn how and when to remove this message William Radcliffe Birt FRAS 15 July 1804 14 December 1881 was an English amateur astronomer in the 19th century 1 Birt was employed by John Herschel to carry out a great deal of meteorogical research on atmospheric waves from 1839 to 1843 1 A lot of his work is held in the Scientist s Collection at the American Philosophical Society William Radcliffe Birt FRAS 1804 1881 was an English amateur astronomer in the 19th century This photograph showing Birt with the pier of Victoria Park Observatory in London was taken in October 1867 Probably on Herschel s recommendation Birt became involved with the Kew Observatory in the later 1840s under the Directorship of Francis Ronalds He analysed and published the latter s detailed atmospheric electricity and meteorological observations They also worked together on a new design of kite for making meteorological recordings in the upper air Birt was formally appointed in late 1849 as Ronalds assistant but their relationship soured shortly afterwards and Birt was requested by the Kew Committee to leave in mid 1850 2 In 1850 he published The Hurricane Guide Being an attempt to Connect the Rotary Gale or Revolving Storm with Atmospheric Waves 3 Later in 1853 he subsequently published a second book a Handbook on the Law of Storms being a digest of the Principal Facts of Revolving Storms a second edition of which appeared in 1879 4 Although Birt published some papers on general astronomy 5 6 he is best remembered for his work in selenography particularly work published in the Astronomical Register He was the president of the short lived Selenographical Society 7 Birt was able to use the Hartwell Observatory for some of his work 8 9 For the last decade of his life he published a monthly guide to lunar observation 10 He also published jointly with the Rev W J B Richards an introductory series of articles on how to observe the Moon 11 The lunar crater Birt is named after him References edit a b Birt W R 1882 1882MNRAS 42 142B Page 142 Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 42 142 Bibcode 1882MNRAS 42 142B doi 10 1093 mnras 42 4 142 Retrieved 2 September 2023 Ronalds B F 2016 Sir Francis Ronalds Father of the Electric Telegraph London Imperial College Press ISBN 978 1 78326 917 4 William Radcliff Birt 1850 The hurricane guide Being an Attempt to Connect the Rotatory Gale Or Revolving Storm with Oxford University John Murray William Radcliff Birt 1879 Handbook of the law of storms Oxford University Birt W R 1830 1830MNRAS 1 192B Page 192 Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 1 192 Bibcode 1830MNRAS 1 192B Retrieved 3 September 2023 Birt W R 1859 1859MNRAS 20 39B Page 39 Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 20 39 Bibcode 1859MNRAS 20 39B doi 10 1093 mnras 20 2 39 Retrieved 3 September 2023 Selenographical Journal Selenographical Society 1879 Birt W R 1861 1861MNRAS 22 8B Page 8 Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 22 8 Bibcode 1861MNRAS 22 8B doi 10 1093 mnras 22 1 8 Retrieved 3 September 2023 Birt W R 1863 1863MNRAS 23 224B Page 224 Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 23 224 Bibcode 1863MNRAS 23 224B Retrieved 3 September 2023 Birt W R 1872 1872AReg 10 27B Page 27 Astronomical Register 10 27 Bibcode 1872AReg 10 27B Retrieved 3 September 2023 Richards J B Birt W R 1880 1880AReg 18 70R Page 70 Astronomical Register 18 70 Bibcode 1880AReg 18 70R Retrieved 3 September 2023 Further reading editForbes Eric 1970 1980 Birt William Radcliff Dictionary of Scientific Biography Vol 2 New York Charles Scribner s Sons p 147 ISBN 978 0 684 10114 9 Obituary in MNRAS 1882 v 42 p 142 144 Obituary in The Astronomical Register 1882 v 20 p 12 13 External links editVladimir Jankovic John Herschel s and William Radcliffe Birt s research on atmospheric waves Scientists Collection Works by William Radcliffe Birt at Project Gutenberg Works by or about William Radcliffe Birt at Internet Archive nbsp nbsp nbsp This article about a British astronomer is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Radcliffe Birt amp oldid 1183927082, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
