T. E. R. Phillips
Encyclopedia
Rev. Theodore Evelyn Reece Phillips (March 28, 1868 – May 13, 1942), universally known as T. E. R. Phillips, -was an English
astronomer
.
Phillips was born in Kibworth
, Leicestershire
. In 1891 he became curate of Holy Trinity, Taunton
, Somerset
; in 1895 he became curate of Hendford, Yeovil; in 1901 he became curate of St. Saviour's, Croydon; in 1906 he became curate of Ashtead, Surrey; finally in 1916 he was appointed vicar of Headley where he remained for the rest of his life.
As an amateur astronomer, he observed planets including Jupiter
and Mars
, making a very thorough study of the surface currents on Jupiter. He was a member of the IAU
commission on planets. He was director of the Jupiter section of the British Astronomical Association
from 1900–1933 and director of the Saturn section from 1935–1940. He was president of the Royal Astronomical Society
from 1927–1929.
He won the Jackson-Gwilt Medal
of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1918.
He co-wrote Splendour of the Heavens with W. H. Steavenson in 1923.
In an addition to astronomy, he took an active interest in meteorology
. He was married and had one son.
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...
.
Phillips was born in Kibworth
Kibworth
Kibworth is an area of the Harborough district of Leicestershire, England, that contains two civil parishes—the villages of Kibworth Beauchamp and Kibworth Harcourt . According to the 2001 census, Kibworth Beauchamp has a population of 3,798, and Kibworth Harcourt has a population of 990. The two...
, Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
. In 1891 he became curate of Holy Trinity, Taunton
Taunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
; in 1895 he became curate of Hendford, Yeovil; in 1901 he became curate of St. Saviour's, Croydon; in 1906 he became curate of Ashtead, Surrey; finally in 1916 he was appointed vicar of Headley where he remained for the rest of his life.
As an amateur astronomer, he observed planets including Jupiter
Jupiter
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest planet within the Solar System. It is a gas giant with mass one-thousandth that of the Sun but is two and a half times the mass of all the other planets in our Solar System combined. Jupiter is classified as a gas giant along with Saturn,...
and Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
, making a very thorough study of the surface currents on Jupiter. He was a member of 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...
commission on planets. He was director of the Jupiter section of 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...
from 1900–1933 and director of the Saturn section from 1935–1940. He was president 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...
from 1927–1929.
He won 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 in 1918.
He co-wrote Splendour of the Heavens with W. H. Steavenson in 1923.
In an addition to astronomy, he took an active interest in meteorology
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
. He was married and had one son.
Obituaries
- MNRAS 103 (1943) 70–72
- PASP 54 (1942) 166
- Obs 64 (1942) 228–231 (article on honorary degree from Oxford University on 28 February 1942, in lieu of obituary)