Robert Raynolds McMath
Encyclopedia
Robert Raynolds McMath was a U.S.
solar
astronomer
.
Robert R. McMath (1891-1962) was a bridge engineer, businessman, and astronomer. Robert's father, Francis C. McMath, had made a fortune as a bridge builder. They both had a keen interest in amateur astronomy. So in 1922, the McMaths, along with Judge Henry S. Hulbert founded the McMath-Hulbert Observatory
in Lake Angelus, Michigan
. It was deeded to the University of Michigan
in 1931, Robert served as the director of the McMath-Hulbert Observatory until 1961.
In 1932, Robert extended the functionality of the spectroheliograph
so that it could record motion pictures of the sun. This machine is known as a spectroheliokinematograph; with it, he took astonishing moving pictures of solar storm
s, showing features on the sun's surface that lasted from seconds to days.
In 1933, he and his father received the Franklin Institute
's John Price Wetherill Medal.
Robert McMath was an adviser to the National Science Foundation
in its early years and he chaired the panel that advised NSF on the need for a national observatory. A site on Kitt Peak
, AZ
was finally chosen for the Kitt Peak National Observatory
(KPNO). Robert McMath along with the eminent astronomer Keith Pierce built a new, larger solar telescope on Kitt Peak called the McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope
. Robert McMath served as the first president of AURA
from 1957 to 1958, and thereafter as chairman of the AURA board.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
solar
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
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...
.
Robert R. McMath (1891-1962) was a bridge engineer, businessman, and astronomer. Robert's father, Francis C. McMath, had made a fortune as a bridge builder. They both had a keen interest in amateur astronomy. So in 1922, the McMaths, along with Judge Henry S. Hulbert founded the McMath-Hulbert Observatory
McMath-Hulbert Observatory
The McMath-Hulbert Solar Observatory is a decommissioned solar observatory in Lake Angelus, Michigan, USA. It was established in 1929 as a private observatory by father and son Francis Charles McMath and Robert Raynolds McMath and their friend, Judge Henry Hulbert...
in Lake Angelus, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. It was deeded to the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1931, Robert served as the director of the McMath-Hulbert Observatory until 1961.
In 1932, Robert extended the functionality of the spectroheliograph
Spectroheliograph
The spectroheliograph is an instrument used in astronomy. It captures a photographic image of the Sun at a single wavelength of light, a monochromatic image...
so that it could record motion pictures of the sun. This machine is known as a spectroheliokinematograph; with it, he took astonishing moving pictures of solar storm
Solar storm
Solar storm can refer to:*Solar flare, a large explosion in the Sun's atmosphere*Coronal mass ejection , a massive burst of solar wind associated with solar flares*Geomagnetic storm, the interaction of the Sun's outburst with Earth's magnetic field...
s, showing features on the sun's surface that lasted from seconds to days.
In 1933, he and his father received the Franklin Institute
Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute is a museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the oldest centers of science education and development in the United States, dating to 1824. The Institute also houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.-History:On February 5, 1824, Samuel Vaughn Merrick and...
's John Price Wetherill Medal.
Robert McMath was an adviser to the National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
in its early years and he chaired the panel that advised NSF on the need for a national observatory. A site on Kitt Peak
Kitt Peak
Kitt Peak is a mountain in the U.S. state of Arizona. It is the location of the Kitt Peak National Observatory. The radio telescope at the Observatory is one of ten dishes comprising the Very Long Baseline Array ....
, AZ
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
was finally chosen for the Kitt Peak National Observatory
Kitt Peak National Observatory
The Kitt Peak National Observatory is a United States astronomical observatory located on 2,096 m Kitt Peak of the Quinlan Mountains in the Arizona-Sonoran Desert on the Tohono O'odham Nation, southwest of Tucson...
(KPNO). Robert McMath along with the eminent astronomer Keith Pierce built a new, larger solar telescope on Kitt Peak called the McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope
McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope
The McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope is a 1.6-m f/54 reflecting solar telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona, USA. The building was designed by Myron Goldsmith and built in 1962. It is the largest telescope of its kind in the world and is named for astronomers Robert McMath and Keith...
. Robert McMath served as the first president of AURA
AURA
AURA commonly refers to:* Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy* Atlas of UTR Regulatory Activity, the Atlas of UTR Regulatory Activity...
from 1957 to 1958, and thereafter as chairman of the AURA board.
See also
- McMath-Hulbert ObservatoryMcMath-Hulbert ObservatoryThe McMath-Hulbert Solar Observatory is a decommissioned solar observatory in Lake Angelus, Michigan, USA. It was established in 1929 as a private observatory by father and son Francis Charles McMath and Robert Raynolds McMath and their friend, Judge Henry Hulbert...
- McMath-Pierce Solar TelescopeMcMath-Pierce Solar TelescopeThe McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope is a 1.6-m f/54 reflecting solar telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona, USA. The building was designed by Myron Goldsmith and built in 1962. It is the largest telescope of its kind in the world and is named for astronomers Robert McMath and Keith...
- Peach Mountain Observatory