Alexander F. I. Forbes
Encyclopedia
Alexander Forbes Irvine Forbes (April 13, 1871 – May 15, 1959) was a South Africa
n astronomer
.
He was born in Scotland
in Kinellar, Aberdeenshire
and came to South Africa in 1896. He returned to Scotland to study but emigrated permanently to South Africa in 1909. He worked as an architect until 1932.
He was president of the Astronomical Society of South Africa from 1942 to 1943.
He discovered the periodic comet 37P/Forbes
. He was also one of several co-discoverers of "Comet Pons-Coggia-Winnecke-Forbes", which is today known as 27P/Crommelin
in honor of the astronomer who computed its orbit.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
.
He was born in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in Kinellar, Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
and came to South Africa in 1896. He returned to Scotland to study but emigrated permanently to South Africa in 1909. He worked as an architect until 1932.
He was president of the Astronomical Society of South Africa from 1942 to 1943.
He discovered the periodic comet 37P/Forbes
37P/Forbes
37P/Forbes is a periodic comet in our solar system.The comet nucleus is estimated to be 1.9 kilometers in diameter.-External links:* from JPL / ** 2011 05 29, 2:55:09 UT; mag 18.0 N; C. Bell H47...
. He was also one of several co-discoverers of "Comet Pons-Coggia-Winnecke-Forbes", which is today known as 27P/Crommelin
27P/Crommelin
Comet Crommelin, also known as Comet Pons-Coggia-Winnecke-Forbes, is a periodic comet in the solar system named after the British astronomer Andrew C. D. Crommelin who calculated its orbit in 1930...
in honor of the astronomer who computed its orbit.