Frank Watson Dyson

Sir Frank Watson Dyson (January 8 1868 – May 25 1939) was an English astronomer.

Related Topics:
January 8 - 1868 - May 25 - 1939 - English - Astronomer

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He was Astronomer Royal for Scotland from 1905 to 1910, and Astronomer Royal (and director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory) from 1910 to 1933. In 1928, he introduced a new free-pendulum clock in the Observatory. This wireless transmission meant that Greenwich Mean Time was more accurate. He also invented the "six pips" in 1924.

Related Topics:
Astronomer Royal for Scotland - 1905 - 1910 - Astronomer Royal - Royal Greenwich Observatory - 1933 - 1928 - Greenwich Mean Time - Six pips - 1924

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Dyson was born in Measham, near Ashby-de-la-Zouch in England. He was knighted in 1915. He died while traveling from Australia to England in 1939.

Related Topics:
Measham - Ashby-de-la-Zouch - 1915

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Between 1894–1906, Dyson lived at 6 Vanbrugh Hill, Blackheath, London SE3. The house is now marked by a blue plaque.

Related Topics:
1894 - 1906 - Blackheath - Blue plaque

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Despite their similarity in name, Freeman Dyson is not related. However, the younger Dyson does credit Sir Frank with sparking his interest in astronomy; because they shared the same last name, Sir Frank's achievements were discussed by Freeman Dyson's family when he was a young boy. Inspired, Dyson's first attempt at writing was a 1931 piece of juvenilia entitled "Sir Phillip Robert's Erolunar Collision" — Sir Philip being a thinly disguised version of Sir Frank.

Related Topics:
Freeman Dyson - Juvenilia

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Dyson crater on the Moon is named after him, as is the asteroid 1241 Dysona.

Related Topics:
Dyson crater - Moon - Asteroid - 1241 Dysona

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He won the Bruce Medal in 1922 and the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1925.

Related Topics:
Bruce Medal - 1922 - Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society - 1925

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