Edward Pigott
Encyclopedia
Edward Pigott was an English
astronomer
, and the son of astronomer Nathaniel Pigott
(1725–1804) and Anna Mathurine de Bériot (1727–1792). Probably born in Whitton, Middlesex, his elder brother, Charles Gregory, died in young age. He also had a younger sister, Mathurina (born 1761). He lived in England
, France
and Wales
.
Working as an astronomer with his father, he observed Jupiter's satellites and, from a station near Caen
(Normandy, France), the transit of Venus
of 3 June 1769. On 23 March 1779, from Frampton House, Glamorganshire, he discovered a nebula
in Coma Berenices
, which later became known as M64
. This discovery occurred just 12 days before that by Bode
and roughly a year before Messier
's independent rediscovery of the same object. Perhaps because of its late publication, Pigott's original discovery fell more or less forgotten and his "nebula" was apparently never identified, until Bryn Jones
of Wales recovered it in April 2002. Edward Pigott discovered the Great comet of 1783 from York on 19 November 1783. This comet was independently found by Pierre Méchain
on 26 November and observed by several astronomers including Charles Messier
.
On 10 September 1784 Edward Pigott detected the variability of Eta Aquilae
, then known as "Eta Antinoi
", and the first known representative of a class of variable stars later called Delta Cephei stars
or, perhaps somewhat misleadingly, "Cepheids". This discovery occurred at a time when roughly a dozen variables were known, of which all but 6 were nova
e or supernovae.
In the following years, Pigott worked with his neighbour and friend, John Goodricke
. Goodricke is reported to have died in 1786 from pneumonia he caught when observing Delta Cephei
. Pigott died in Bath, England on 27 June 1825.
Edward Pigott, together with his father, Nathaniel Pigott, was honoured by having an asteroid
named after him: . Asteroid
10220 Pigott
, discovered on 20 October 1997 by R.A. Tucker of the Goodricke-Pigott Observatory
, and provisionally designated 1997 UG7.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
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...
, and the son of astronomer Nathaniel Pigott
Nathaniel Pigott
Nathaniel Pigott was an English astronomer, noted for his observations of eclipses, a transit of Venus and a transit of Mercury, and comets...
(1725–1804) and Anna Mathurine de Bériot (1727–1792). Probably born in Whitton, Middlesex, his elder brother, Charles Gregory, died in young age. He also had a younger sister, Mathurina (born 1761). He lived in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
Working as an astronomer with his father, he observed Jupiter's satellites and, from a station near Caen
Caen
Caen is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the Calvados department and the capital of the Basse-Normandie region. It is located inland from the English Channel....
(Normandy, France), the transit of Venus
Transit of Venus
A transit of Venus across the Sun takes place when the planet Venus passes directly between the Sun and Earth, becoming visible against the solar disk. During a transit, Venus can be seen from Earth as a small black disk moving across the face of the Sun...
of 3 June 1769. On 23 March 1779, from Frampton House, Glamorganshire, he discovered a nebula
Nebula
A nebula is an interstellar cloud of dust, hydrogen gas, helium gas and other ionized gases...
in Coma Berenices
Coma Berenices
Coma Berenices is a traditional asterism that has since been defined as one of the 88 modern constellations. It is located near Leo, to which it formerly belonged, and accommodates the North Galactic Pole...
, which later became known as M64
Black Eye Galaxy
The Black Eye Galaxy was discovered by Edward Pigott in March 1779, and independently by Johann Elert Bode in April of the same year, as well as by Charles Messier in 1780...
. This discovery occurred just 12 days before that by Bode
Bode
Bode may refer to:in people by surname:*Boyd Henry Bode , American academic and philosopher*Bruce Bode, MD, FACE, American diabetes specialist*Denise Bode , American politician*Erin Bode, American singer...
and roughly a year before Messier
Messier
Messier can refer to:Surnames:*Charles Messier, French astronomer*Éric Messier, former NHL defenseman*Marc Messier, Canadian actor from Quebec*Mark Messier, NHL forward*Jean-Marie Messier, former CEO of Vivendi UniversalOther:*Messier object...
's independent rediscovery of the same object. Perhaps because of its late publication, Pigott's original discovery fell more or less forgotten and his "nebula" was apparently never identified, until Bryn Jones
Bryn Jones
Bryn Jones is the name of:*Bryn Jones , Welsh footballer*Bryn Jones , Welsh footballer*Bryn Jones , Welsh footballer*Bryn Jones , Welsh footballer...
of Wales recovered it in April 2002. Edward Pigott discovered the Great comet of 1783 from York on 19 November 1783. This comet was independently found by Pierre Méchain
Pierre Méchain
Pierre François André Méchain was a French astronomer and surveyor who, with Charles Messier, was a major contributor to the early study of deep sky objects and comets.-Life:...
on 26 November and observed by several astronomers including Charles Messier
Charles Messier
Charles Messier was a French astronomer most notable for publishing an astronomical catalogue consisting of deep sky objects such as nebulae and star clusters that came to be known as the 110 "Messier objects"...
.
On 10 September 1784 Edward Pigott detected the variability of Eta Aquilae
Eta Aquilae
Eta Aquilae is a star in the constellation Aquila. It was also part of the former constellation Antinous. It is a Cepheid variable star, varying from apparent magnitude 3.5 to 4.4 with a period of 7.176641 days...
, then known as "Eta Antinoi
Antinous (constellation)
Antinous is an obsolete constellation no longer in use by astronomers, having been merged into Aquila, which it bordered to the North.The constellation was created by the emperor Hadrian in 132. According to legend, Hadrian was told by an oracle that only death of his most beloved person would save...
", and the first known representative of a class of variable stars later called Delta Cephei stars
Cepheid variable
A Cepheid is a member of a class of very luminous variable stars. The strong direct relationship between a Cepheid variable's luminosity and pulsation period, secures for Cepheids their status as important standard candles for establishing the Galactic and extragalactic distance scales.Cepheid...
or, perhaps somewhat misleadingly, "Cepheids". This discovery occurred at a time when roughly a dozen variables were known, of which all but 6 were nova
Nova
A nova is a cataclysmic nuclear explosion in a star caused by the accretion of hydrogen on to the surface of a white dwarf star, which ignites and starts nuclear fusion in a runaway manner...
e or supernovae.
In the following years, Pigott worked with his neighbour and friend, John Goodricke
John Goodricke
John Goodricke FRS was an eminent and profoundly deaf amateur astronomer. He is best known for his observations of the variable star Algol in 1782.- Life and work :...
. Goodricke is reported to have died in 1786 from pneumonia he caught when observing Delta Cephei
Delta Cephei
Delta Cephei is a binary star system approximately 891 light-years away in the constellation of Cepheus . Delta Cephei is the prototype of the Cepheid variable stars, and it is among the closest stars of this type to the Sun...
. Pigott died in Bath, England on 27 June 1825.
Edward Pigott, together with his father, Nathaniel Pigott, was honoured by having an asteroid
Asteroid
Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
named after him: . Asteroid
Asteroid
Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
10220 Pigott
10220 Pigott
10220 Pigott is a main-belt asteroid discovered on October 20, 1997 by R. A. Tucker at the Goodricke-Pigott Observatory.- External links :*...
, discovered on 20 October 1997 by R.A. Tucker of the Goodricke-Pigott Observatory
Goodricke-Pigott Observatory
The Goodricke-Pigott Observatory is a private astronomical observatory in Tucson, Arizona. It was formally dedicated on October 26, 1996, and observations began that evening with imaging of Comet Hale-Bopp....
, and provisionally designated 1997 UG7.
External links
- http://www.seds.org/messier/xtra/Bios/pigott.html
- http://www.jonesbryn.plus.com/wastronhist/people/pigotts/p_pigotts.html