William Herbert Steavenson

William Herbert Steavenson (April 26 1894 – September 23 1975) was a British amateur astronomer.

Related Topics:
April 26 - 1894 - September 23 - 1975 - Astronomer

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He lost the vision in his right eye in a childhood accident. In September 1911, while still a schoolboy, he independently discovered the comet C/1911 S2, but unfortunately for him he did not check his photograph quickly enough and credit went to Ferdinand Quénisset. Nevertheless, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in January 1912.

Related Topics:
1911 - Comet - C/1911 S2 - Ferdinand Quénisset - Royal Astronomical Society - 1912

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He chose medicine as his profession and became a surgeon, but pursued astronomy his entire life and was a skilled observer. He concentrated on variable stars, planets and their satellites, and comets, and also observed the remnants of old novae like Nova Persei 1901.

Related Topics:
Variable star - Planet - Satellite - Comet - Nova - Nova Persei 1901

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From 1957–1959 he served as president of the Royal Astronomical Society, one of the few amateur astronomers to do so.

Related Topics:
1957 - 1959

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He won the Jackson-Gwilt Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1928.

Related Topics:
Jackson-Gwilt Medal - 1928

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