Person
Ross, David (1850 - 1930)
- Born
- 26 February 1850
Ardgay, Scotland - Died
- 30 May 1930
Yarra Glen, Victoria, Australia - Occupation
- Astronomer and Bank employee
Summary
David Ross was the leading amateur astronomer in Victoria for over 20 years from the mid-1880s. He was one of very few Australian astronomers who used telescopes that he had made for serious observational work. His first telescope was made in the mid-1890s, followed by two others each larger that its predecessor. Ross's principal observations were on comets and he is credited with discovering two. For the latter discovery in 1906 he was awarded the Donohoe Medal by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. However he lacked the necessary accessories and mathematical abilities to make significant contributions to astrometry. Ross was a pioneer in the use of astrophotography. He served as Vice-President of the short-lived Victorian Branch of the British Astronomical Society.
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Details
Chronology
- 1876
- Life event - Migrated to Australia
- 1886 - 1915
- Career position - Clerk, National Bank of Australasia
- 1902 - 1906
- Career position - Vice-President, Victorian Branch. British Astronomical Society
- 1915
- Life event - Retired
Published resources
Journal Articles
- Orchiston, Wayne, 'Comets and Communication: Amateur-Professional Tension in Australian Astronomy', Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia, 16 (1999), 212-221. Details
- Orchiston, Wayne and Brewer, Adrian, 'David Ross and the Development of Amateur Astronomy in Victoria', Journal of the British Astronomical Association, 100 (1990), 173-181. Details
Helen Cohn
Last modified: 3 July 2018