Star Colours: From William Henry Smyth to Edward Iszatt Essam
18 September @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm BST
Online talk by Dr Mike Leggett
Beginning with a brief introduction to colour science and colour vision as applied to astronomy, the talk then covers the Sidereal Chromatics and colour system of William Henry Smyth. Star colours were also recorded by Thomas William Webb and William Sadler Franks, among others. Franks was the first Director of the BAA Star Colour Section and the work of the Section is reviewed, under subsequent Directors: George Frederick Chambers, Edward Walter Maunder and the last Director Edward Iszatt Essam. The fate of the BAA Star Colour Section is considered and there is a brief outline of stellar spectroscopy and colour indices.
As a founder member of the South Lincolnshire Astronomical and Geophysical Society in 1976, Dr Mike Leggett began to present astronomy talks for his local society. Since that time he has presented lectures for the British Interplanetary Society, at University of Aberdeen evening classes, for the Society for the History of Astronomy and to astronomical societies and other groups throughout the UK. He is the General Secretary and a Council member of the Society for the History of Astronomy (SHA), and is currently county co-ordinator for Buckinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Rutland in the SHA survey of astronomical history of the UK.
A Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and a Fellow of the British Interplanetary Society, Dr Mike Leggett is also a member of the British Astronomical Association, the Society for Popular Astronomy, the National Space Society and the Planetary Society.
A Graduate in Chemistry and Pharmacology from the University of Nottingham, Dr Leggett also holds a PhD in Chemistry. A Chartered Chemist and a Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, he is a member of the Astrophysical Chemistry Group. He also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Technical Authorship and Communication and is Member of the Institute of Scientific and Technical Communicators.
Image credit: M29 Open Cluster, M. Phillips / ASERO