Astronomer Royal

A Dictionary of Astronomy | 1997 | 700+ words | Copyright

Astronomer Royal An honorary title held by a prominent British astronomer, created in 1675 by King Charles II when the Royal Observatory was founded. Until 1971 the Astronomer Royal was also Director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory, but the post was subsequently made separate.

astronomers royal

Name	Held office
JohnFlamsteed (1646–1719)	1675–1719
EdmondHalley (1656–1742)	1720–42
JamesBradley (1693–1762)	1742–62
Nathaniel Bliss (1700–1764)	1762–4
NevilMaskelyne (1732–1811)	1765–1811
JohnPond (1767–1836)	1811–35
George B.Airy (1801–92)	1835–81
William H. M.Christie (1845–1923)	1881–1910
Frank W.Dyson (1868–1939)	1910–33
Harold SpencerJones (1890–1960)	1933–55
RichardWoolley (1906–86)	1956–71
MartinRyle (1918–84)	1972–82
Francis Graham-Smith (1923– )	1982–90
Arnold Whittaker Wolfendale (1927– )	1991–4
Martin John Rees (1942– )	1995–

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