William Robert Brooks was a British-born American 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...

, mainly noted as being one of the most prolific discoverers of new comets of all time, second only to Jean-Louis Pons

Jean-Louis Pons

Jean-Louis Pons was a French astronomer.Despite humble beginnings and being self-taught, he went on to become the greatest visual comet discoverer of all time: between 1801 and 1827 Pons discovered thirty-seven comets, more than any other person in history.- Early life :Pons was born at Peyre,...

. He was born in Maidstone

Maidstone

Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural...

, 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...

, the son of a Baptist

Baptist

Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...

 minister who emigrated to Marion, New York

Marion, New York

Marion is a town in Wayne County, New York, United States. The population was 4,974 as of the 2000 census. It is named after Revolutionary War hero Francis Marion. It is an interior town near the center of the county, about 20 miles east of Rochester, New York and 50 miles west of Syracuse, New...

.

Early life

Brooks developed his interest in astronomy during a boyhood voyage to Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

, when he observed a navigator making measurements with a sextant

Sextant

A sextant is an instrument used to measure the angle between any two visible objects. Its primary use is to determine the angle between a celestial object and the horizon which is known as the altitude. Making this measurement is known as sighting the object, shooting the object, or taking a sight...

. As a young man he worked in the Shepherd Iron Works in Buffalo, New York

Buffalo, New York

Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...

, gaining considerable mechanical and draughtsmanship skills: he went on to become a portrait photographer in Phelps

Phelps (town), New York

Phelps is a town in Ontario County, New York, USA. The population was 7,017 at the 2000 census. The town is named after one of the original proprietors.The Town of Phelps contains a village called Phelps. Both are north of Geneva, New York....

 before turning his attention to astronomy full-time. Brooks had a good knowledge of lens construction, and was able to design and make his own telescopes, taking a year to grind and polish the optics for his nine-inch reflector.

Comet discoveries

While residing in Phelps, Brooks discovered his first comet in 1881, using a telescope of his own construction. In 1886 he discovered 3 new comets.

Brooks' success at comet discovery was noticed by businessman William Smith

William Smith (businessman)

William Smith was an American businessman. Born in Canterbury, England, he set up a successful nursery business in Geneva, New York with his brothers in the mid 19th century...

, who, wishing to attract Brooks to Geneva, New York

Geneva, New York

Geneva is a city in Ontario and Seneca counties in the U.S. state of New York. The population was 13,617 at the 2000 census. Some claim it is named after the city and canton of Geneva in Switzerland. Others believe the name came from confusion over the letters in the word "Seneca" written in cursive...

, built a new observatory and a home for Brooks' family. Brooks went on to become Director of the Smith Observatory at Hobart College

Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Hobart and William Smith Colleges, located in Geneva, New York, are together a liberal arts college offering Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Teaching degrees. In athletics, however, the two schools compete with separate teams, known as the Hobart Statesmen and the...

, Geneva, New York, where he lectured and undertook his astronomical research. His observations at the Smith Observatory produced 16 new comets.

He specialized in the discovery of comet

Comet

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 12P/Pons-Brooks

12P/Pons-Brooks

12P/Pons–Brooks is a periodic comet with a period of 71 years. The comet was suggested by Carl Sagan as the spectacular comet seen by the Chinese in 1486 BCE which, according to historical researcher Graham Phillips, might have inspired the rise of a number of monotheistic religions around the...

 and 16P/Brooks

16P/Brooks

16P/Brooks, also known as Brooks 2, is a periodic comet discovered by William Robert Brooks on July 7, 1889, but failed to note any motion. He was able to confirm the discovery the next morning, having seen that the comet had moved north...

. He also discovered the bright naked-eye comet C/1911 O1

C/1911 O1

C/1911 O1 , also designated 1911 V or Comet Brooks, was a bright comet discovered in July 1911 by astronomer William Robert Brooks.It is notable for becoming a bright naked-eye object of second magnitude, with a narrow straight tail of up to thirty degrees in length and a distinct blue colour; this...

 (Brooks), and was a pioneer of astrophotography

Astrophotography

Astrophotography is a specialized type of photography that entails recording images of astronomical objects and large areas of the night sky. The first photographs of an astronomical object were taken in the 1840s, but it was not until the late 19th century that advances in technology allowed for...

.

Awards

In his life, Brooks received medals from the Lick Observatory

Lick Observatory

The Lick Observatory is an astronomical observatory, owned and operated by the University of California. It is situated on the summit of Mount Hamilton, in the Diablo Range just east of San Jose, California, USA...

, 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...

, the International Jury at the St. Louis Exhibition, the Astronomical Society of Mexico, and the Lalande Medal of the French Academy of Sciences

French Academy of Sciences

The French Academy of Sciences is a learned society, founded in 1666 by Louis XIV at the suggestion of Jean-Baptiste Colbert, to encourage and protect the spirit of French scientific research...

in 1899. Brooks was also appointed a Professor and Honorary Doctor of Science by Hobart College.

External links

• Smith Observatory.org Website featuring the history and current status of the Smith Observatory in Geneva, NY