Lewis A. Swift
Encyclopedia
Lewis A. Swift was an American astronomer
.
s, including periodic comets 11P/Tempel-Swift-LINEAR
, 64P/Swift-Gehrels, and 109P/Swift-Tuttle (parent body of the Perseids
meteor shower). He also discovered comets C/1877 G2, C/1878 N1, C/1879 M1, C/1881 J1, C/1881 W1, C/1892 E1, D/1895 Q1 (a.k.a. D/Swift, whose debris stream Mariner 4
probably encountered on September 15, 1967), C/1896 G1 and C/1899 E1, and co-discovered C/1883 D1 (Brooks-Swift). Note, however, comet 54P/de Vico-Swift-NEAT
was discovered by his son Edward D. Swift
rather than by him.
He discovered his last comet at the age of 79. He was one of the few people to see Comet Halley
at two of its appearances, 76 years apart (see also: External Link).
In 1878 he believed he had observed two Vulcan-type planet
s (planets within the orbit of Mercury
), but he was mistaken.
Apart from comets, he also discovered hundreds of nebulae. One of them is IC 289
.
while on his way to school in Clarkson, New York
. His teacher initially dismissed his observation, but three days later the 'discovery' of the comet was announced.
Swift conducted his early observations in Rochester, NY, 'lain out in the snow' in an alley on Ambrose Street or on the roof of Duffy's Cider Mill. Later he gained a patron in the Rochester patent medicine
businessman Hulbert Harrington Warner
, who financed the building of an observatory for Swift. A fund of $13,000 was raised to purchase a 16 inch telescope for Swift.
Warner went bankrupt in the Panic of 1893
, which ended his financial support, and Swift then went to California
to become director of Mount Lowe
Observatory, taking the 16 inch telescope with him.
He was married twice, first to Lucretia Hunt in 1850 and then to Carrie D. Topping in 1864. Edward D. Swift was his son by the latter wife.
.
Swift received more medals than any other astronomer of his time including three made of solid gold from Imperial Academy of Science in Australia, four made of bronze from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
, and the Laplace Medal from the French Astronomical Society. In 1897 he was the first person awarded the Jackson-Gwilt Medal
of the Royal Astronomical Society
.
The asteroid
5035 Swift
is named in his honour, as is the lunar crater Swift
.
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...
.
Discoveries
He discovered or co-discovered a number of cometComet
A comet is an icy small Solar System body that, when close enough to the Sun, displays a visible coma and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena are both due to the effects of solar radiation and the solar wind upon the nucleus of the comet...
s, including periodic comets 11P/Tempel-Swift-LINEAR
11P/Tempel-Swift-LINEAR
11P/Tempel–Swift–LINEAR is a periodic comet in our solar system.Ernst Wilhelm Leberecht Tempel originally discovered the comet on November 27, 1869, it was later observed by Lewis Swift on October 11, 1880 and realised to be the same comet.After 1908 the comet became an unobservable lost comet,...
, 64P/Swift-Gehrels, and 109P/Swift-Tuttle (parent body of the Perseids
Perseids
The Perseids are a prolific meteor shower associated with the comet Swift-Tuttle. The Perseids are so-called because the point from which they appear to come, called the radiant, lies in the constellation Perseus. The name derives in part from the word Perseides , a term found in Greek mythology...
meteor shower). He also discovered comets C/1877 G2, C/1878 N1, C/1879 M1, C/1881 J1, C/1881 W1, C/1892 E1, D/1895 Q1 (a.k.a. D/Swift, whose debris stream Mariner 4
Mariner 4
Mariner 4 was the fourth in a series of spacecraft, launched on November 28, 1964, intended for planetary exploration in a flyby mode and performed the first successful flyby of the planet Mars, returning the first pictures of the Martian surface...
probably encountered on September 15, 1967), C/1896 G1 and C/1899 E1, and co-discovered C/1883 D1 (Brooks-Swift). Note, however, comet 54P/de Vico-Swift-NEAT
54P/de Vico-Swift-NEAT
54P/de Vico–Swift–NEAT is a periodic comet in the solar system first discovered by Father Francesco de Vico on August 23, 1844. It has become a lost comet several times after its discovery.- First Discovery :...
was discovered by his son Edward D. Swift
Edward D. Swift
Edward D. Swift was an American astronomer. He was the son of the astronomer Lewis Swift.His father discovered many comets, and Edward Swift followed in his footsteps by co-discovering the periodic comet 54P/de Vico-Swift-NEAT.-External links:...
rather than by him.
He discovered his last comet at the age of 79. He was one of the few people to see Comet Halley
Comet Halley
Halley's Comet or Comet Halley is the best-known of the short-period comets, and is visible from Earth every 75 to 76 years. Halley is the only short-period comet that is clearly visible to the naked eye from Earth, and thus the only naked-eye comet that might appear twice in a human lifetime...
at two of its appearances, 76 years apart (see also: External Link).
In 1878 he believed he had observed two Vulcan-type planet
Planet
A planet is a celestial body orbiting a star or stellar remnant that is massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity, is not massive enough to cause thermonuclear fusion, and has cleared its neighbouring region of planetesimals.The term planet is ancient, with ties to history, science,...
s (planets within the orbit of Mercury
Mercury (planet)
Mercury is the innermost and smallest planet in the Solar System, orbiting the Sun once every 87.969 Earth days. The orbit of Mercury has the highest eccentricity of all the Solar System planets, and it has the smallest axial tilt. It completes three rotations about its axis for every two orbits...
), but he was mistaken.
Apart from comets, he also discovered hundreds of nebulae. One of them is IC 289
IC 289
IC 289 is a planetary nebula in the constellation Cassiopeia which looks pretty and small with aperture instruments. This nebula was discovered by Lewis Swift in early September of 1888. It can be easily recognized because it just lies down to the 10 magnitude star BD + 60 0631. N.J...
.
Life
According to Swift, he first became interested in astronomy as young boy after observing the Great Comet of 1843Great Comet of 1843
The Great Comet of 1843 formally designated C/1843 D1 and 1843 I, was a long-period comet which became very bright in March 1843 . It was discovered on February 5, 1843 and rapidly brightened to become a great comet...
while on his way to school in Clarkson, New York
Clarkson, New York
Clarkson is a town in Monroe County, New York, USA. The population was 6,736 at the 2010 census. The town is named after General Matthew Clarkson.The Town of Clarkson is on the west border of the county and is west of the City of Rochester.-History:...
. His teacher initially dismissed his observation, but three days later the 'discovery' of the comet was announced.
Swift conducted his early observations in Rochester, NY, 'lain out in the snow' in an alley on Ambrose Street or on the roof of Duffy's Cider Mill. Later he gained a patron in the Rochester patent medicine
Patent medicine
Patent medicine refers to medical compounds of questionable effectiveness sold under a variety of names and labels. The term "patent medicine" is somewhat of a misnomer because, in most cases, although many of the products were trademarked, they were never patented...
businessman Hulbert Harrington Warner
Hulbert Harrington Warner
Hulbert Harrington Warner was a Rochester, New York businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune from the sales of patent medicine.-Biography:...
, who financed the building of an observatory for Swift. A fund of $13,000 was raised to purchase a 16 inch telescope for Swift.
Warner went bankrupt in the Panic of 1893
Panic of 1893
The Panic of 1893 was a serious economic depression in the United States that began in 1893. Similar to the Panic of 1873, this panic was marked by the collapse of railroad overbuilding and shaky railroad financing which set off a series of bank failures...
, which ended his financial support, and Swift then went to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to become director of Mount Lowe
Mount Lowe (California)
Mount Lowe is a mountain on the southern fold of the San Gabriel Mountains. Originally named Oak Mountain, it was renamed for Professor Thaddeus S.C. Lowe, who is credited for being the first white man to set foot on and plant the American flag at its peak, and who built the Mount Lowe Railway to...
Observatory, taking the 16 inch telescope with him.
He was married twice, first to Lucretia Hunt in 1850 and then to Carrie D. Topping in 1864. Edward D. Swift was his son by the latter wife.
Honors
Swift was awarded the degree of Ph. D. from the University of RochesterUniversity of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
.
Swift received more medals than any other astronomer of his time including three made of solid gold from Imperial Academy of Science in Australia, four made of bronze from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Astronomical Society of the Pacific
The Astronomical Society of the Pacific is a scientific and educational organization, founded in San Francisco on February 7, 1889. Its name derives from its origins on the Pacific Coast, but today it has members all over the country and the world...
, and the Laplace Medal from the French Astronomical Society. In 1897 he was the first person awarded the Jackson-Gwilt Medal
Jackson-Gwilt Medal
The Jackson-Gwilt Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society has been awarded regularly since 1897 for the invention, improvement, or development of astronomical instrumentation or techniques; for achievement in observational astronomy; or for achievement in research into the history of astronomy.The...
of the Royal Astronomical Society
Royal Astronomical Society
The Royal Astronomical Society is a learned society that began as the Astronomical Society of London in 1820 to support astronomical research . It became the Royal Astronomical Society in 1831 on receiving its Royal Charter from William IV...
.
The 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...
5035 Swift
5035 Swift
5035 Swift is a main-belt asteroid discovered on October 18, 1991 by Seiji Ueda and Hiroshi Kaneda at Kushiro.- External links :*...
is named in his honour, as is the lunar crater Swift
Swift (crater)
Swift as a crater may refer to:* Swift * Swift...
.