Hugh Percy Wilkins
Encyclopedia
Hugh Percy Wilkins was a Welsh
-born engineer and amateur astronomer
.
He was born in Carmarthen
, where he received his early education, then lived near Llanelli
prior to moving to England
. During the First World War he served in the Royal Army Corps.
Professionally he worked as a mechanical engineer and a civil servant, but he is most noted for his efforts as an amateur astronomer
, particularly as a selenographer. He was elected to the British Astronomical Association
in 1918 and for a period he was the Director of the Lunar Section.
He produced a 100" map of the Moon
, which included new names for a number of features. In 1948 he put forward a request to the IAU
that twenty-two new names be adopted. However he was turned down on the premise that the features were small or near the limb and already had letter designations.
In 1951 he published a 300"-diameter map of the Moon, considered by some as the culmination of the art of selenography
prior to the space age
. However his maps were dense with detail, some of which was fictitious, making them less useful. He made additional requests to the IAU in 1952 and 1955, which were turned down. However the Goodacre
and Mee
crater names from a 1926 map he had produced did become part of the lunar nomenclature.
He also published a number of books intended to popularize astronomy, including two works in collaboration with Sir Patrick Moore
. The most notable was his work, The Moon, which included his map.
The crater Wilkins
on the Moon
is named after him.
For years Dr Wilkins took the astronomy evening class at Crayford Manor House where they continue to use a copy of his 300 inch map regularly in the observatory.
DR Wilkins died suddenly on January 23, 1960, having only retired on December 31, 1959.
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...
-born engineer and amateur 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 Carmarthen
Carmarthen
Carmarthen is a community in, and the county town of, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is sited on the River Towy north of its mouth at Carmarthen Bay. In 2001, the population was 14,648....
, where he received his early education, then lived near Llanelli
Llanelli
Llanelli , the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed , Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast, approximately west-north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. The town is famous for its proud rugby...
prior to moving to 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...
. During the First World War he served in the Royal Army Corps.
Professionally he worked as a mechanical engineer and a civil servant, but he is most noted for his efforts as an amateur 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...
, particularly as a selenographer. He was elected to the British Astronomical Association
British Astronomical Association
The British Astronomical Association is the senior national association of amateur astronomers in the UK.-Function:It encourages observational astronomy by non-professionals in areas which cannot be covered by professional observatories...
in 1918 and for a period he was the Director of the Lunar Section.
He produced a 100" map of the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
, which included new names for a number of features. In 1948 he put forward a request to the IAU
International Astronomical Union
The International Astronomical Union IAU is a collection of professional astronomers, at the Ph.D. level and beyond, active in professional research and education in astronomy...
that twenty-two new names be adopted. However he was turned down on the premise that the features were small or near the limb and already had letter designations.
In 1951 he published a 300"-diameter map of the Moon, considered by some as the culmination of the art of selenography
Selenography
Selenography is the study of the surface and physical features of the Moon. Historically, the principal concern of selenographists was the mapping and naming of the lunar maria, craters, mountain ranges, and other various features...
prior to the space age
Space Age
The Space Age is a time period encompassing the activities related to the Space Race, space exploration, space technology, and the cultural developments influenced by these events. The Space Age is generally considered to have begun with Sputnik...
. However his maps were dense with detail, some of which was fictitious, making them less useful. He made additional requests to the IAU in 1952 and 1955, which were turned down. However the Goodacre
Goodacre (crater)
Goodacre is a lunar impact crater. It is located in the rugged southern highlands on the Moon's near side, and is attached to the north-northeastern part of the exterior of Gemma Frisius, a heavily worn and much larger formation...
and Mee
Mee (crater)
Mee is a lunar crater that is located in the southwestern part of the Moon's near side. Overlying the northwestern rim and intruding one-third the distance across the interior floor is Hainzel, a merged triple-crater formation. To the south is the highly elongated crater Schiller. Mee is 132...
crater names from a 1926 map he had produced did become part of the lunar nomenclature.
He also published a number of books intended to popularize astronomy, including two works in collaboration with Sir Patrick Moore
Patrick Moore
Sir Patrick Alfred Caldwell-Moore, CBE, FRS, FRAS is a British amateur astronomer who has attained prominent status in astronomy as a writer, researcher, radio commentator and television presenter of the subject, and who is credited as having done more than any other person to raise the profile of...
. The most notable was his work, The Moon, which included his map.
The crater Wilkins
Wilkins (crater)
Wilkins is a lunar impact crater that lies in the rugged highlands in the southeastern part of the Moon's near side. It is located to the southwest of the crater Pons and the long Rupes Altai scarp. Just to the southeast lies the larger crater Zagut, and to the north-northwest is the still-larger...
on the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
is named after him.
For years Dr Wilkins took the astronomy evening class at Crayford Manor House where they continue to use a copy of his 300 inch map regularly in the observatory.
DR Wilkins died suddenly on January 23, 1960, having only retired on December 31, 1959.