Nicholas E. Wagman
Encyclopedia
Nicholas E. Wagman was an American
astronomer
and astrometrist
.
Beginning in 1930, Wagman was associated with Pittsburgh's Allegheny Observatory
. He was director of the Observatory and also chairman of the University of Pittsburgh
's Astronomy Department from 1941 until 1970. Under his direction, the 0.76-m Thaw refractor was renovated and used to set the standard for parallax
determinations, of which over 1200 were made. Many binary stars were also discovered and characterized.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 astrometrist
Astrometry
Astrometry is the branch of astronomy that involves precise measurements of the positions and movements of stars and other celestial bodies. The information obtained by astrometric measurements provides information on the kinematics and physical origin of our Solar System and our Galaxy, the Milky...
.
Beginning in 1930, Wagman was associated with Pittsburgh's Allegheny Observatory
Allegheny Observatory
The Allegheny Observatory is an American astronomical research institution, a part of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Pittsburgh. The facility is listed on the National Register of Historical Places The Allegheny Observatory is an American astronomical research...
. He was director of the Observatory and also chairman of the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
's Astronomy Department from 1941 until 1970. Under his direction, the 0.76-m Thaw refractor was renovated and used to set the standard for parallax
Parallax
Parallax is a displacement or difference in the apparent position of an object viewed along two different lines of sight, and is measured by the angle or semi-angle of inclination between those two lines. The term is derived from the Greek παράλλαξις , meaning "alteration"...
determinations, of which over 1200 were made. Many binary stars were also discovered and characterized.
Named after him
- The Nicholas E. Wagman Observatory of the Amateur Astronomers Association of PittsburghAmateur Astronomers Association of PittsburghAmateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh was founded on June 9, 1929 by Chester B. Roe and Leo J. Scanlon. Since then, it has grown to over 500 members and operates two observatories in the Pittsburgh region: the Nicholas E. Wagman Observatory and the Mingo Creek Park Observatory...
in suburban Frazer Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. - Asteroid 3110 Wagman3110 Wagman3110 Wagman is a main-belt asteroid discovered on September 28, 1975 by H. L. Giclas at the Anderson Mesa Station of the Lowell Observatory.- External links :*...