Author:George Biddell Airy

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George Biddell Airy
(1801–1892)

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Kt; English mathematician and astronomer; Astronomer Royal from 1835 to 1881.

Works

1826

Mathematical tracts on physical astronomy, 1826 (external scan)
On the figure of the Earth, 1826 (external scan)

1827

On the use of Silvered Glass for the Mirrors of Reflecting Telescopes, 1827 (external scan)
On the Figure assumed by a Fluid Homogeneous Mass, whose Particles are acted on by their mutual Attraction, and by small extraneous Forces, 1827 (external scan)
On the Principles and Construction of the Achromatic Eye-Pieces of Telescopes, and on the Achromatism of Microscopes, 1827 (external scan)
On a peculiar Defect in the Eye, and a mode of correcting it, 1827 (external scan)
On the Forms of the Teeth of Wheels, 1827 (external scan)
On Laplace's Investigation of the Attraction of Spheroids differing little from a Sphere, 1827 (external scan)
Remarks on a correction of the solar tables required by Mr. Southʼs observations, 1827 (external scan)
On some Passages in Mr. Ivory's Remarks on a Memoir by M. Poisson relating to the Attraction of Spheroids, 1827 (external scan)

1828

On the corrections in the elements of Delambre’s solar tables required by the observations made at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, 1828 (external scan)

1830

On the Spherical Aberration of the Eye-piece of Telescopes, 1830 (external scan)
On the Disturbances of Pendulums and Balances, and on the Theory of Escapements, 1830 (external scan)
On the Longitude of the Cambridge Observatory, 1830 (external scan)
On a Correction requisite to be applied to the Length of a Pendulum consisting of a Ball suspended by a fine Wire, 1830 (external scan)
On certain Conditions under which a Perpetual Motion is possible, 1830 (external scan)

1831

Mathematical tracts on the lunar and planetary theories, 1831 (external scan)

1832

On a Method of determining the Mass of the Moon from Transit Observations of Venus near her inferior conjunction, 1831 (external scan)
On an inequality of long period in the motions of the Earth and Venus 1832 (external scan)
Report on the Progress of Astronomy during the present century, 1832 (external scan)

1833

Remarks on Mr Potter's Experiment on Interference, 1833 (London and Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science) (external scan)
Account of an Aurora Borealis, Seen at Cambridge on the 13th of March, 1833 (London and Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science) (external scan)
Remarks on Sir David Brewster's Paper "On the Absorption of Specific Rays", 1833 (London and Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science) (external scan)
Results of the Repetition of Mr. Potter's Experiment of interposing a Prism in the Path of Interfering Light, 1833 (London and Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science) (external scan)
Appendix to "On the Figure of the Mural Circle at the Observatory of the Cape of Good Hope by Rev. R. Sheepshanks", 1833 (external scan)
On the Mass of Jupiter, as determined from the Observation of Elongations of the Fourth Satellite, 1833 (external scan)
On the Nature of the Light in the two Rays produced by the Double Refraction of Quartz, 1833 (external scan)
Addition to a Paper "On the Nature of the Light in the two Rays produced by the Double Refraction of Quartz", 1833 (external scan)
On a Remarkable Modification of Newton's Rings, 1833 (external scan)
On a new Analyzer, and its Use in Experiments of Polarization, 1833 (external scan)
On a Phaenomenona of Newton's Rings when formed between two transparent Substances of different refractive Powers, 1833 (external scan)
On the Calculation of the Perturbations of the Small Planets and the Comets of short Period, 1833 (Nautical Almanac) (external scan)
Report on Mr Barlow's Fluid-Lens Telescope, 1833 (Proceedings of the Royal Society) (external scan)

1834

Gravitation, 1834 (external scan)
On the Calculation of Newton's Experiments on Diffraction, 1835 (external scan)

1835

On the Latitude of Cambridge Observatory, 1835 (external scan)
On the Diffraction of an Object-glass with Circular Aperture, 1835 (external scan)
Continuation of Researches into the Value of the Mass of Jupiter, by observation of the Elongations of the Fourth Satellite, 1835 (external scan)
On the Position of the Ecliptic, as inferred from Transit and Circle Observations made at Cambridge Observatory in the year 1833, 1835 (external scan)
Observations of the Solar Eclipse of July 16, 1833, made at Cambridge Observatory, and Calculations of the Observations, 1835 (external scan)

1836

On the Time of Rotation of Jupiter, 1836 (external scan)
Report of the Astronomer Royal to the Board of Visitors, 1836 (Greenwich Observations) {ext scan link|1=https://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu//full/1840RGAO...23D...1A/0000522.000.html}}
Continuation of Researches into the Value of Jupiter's Mass, 1836 (external scan)
On the Position of the Ecliptic, as inferred from Observations with the Cambridge Transit and Mural Circle, made in the year 1834, 1836 (external scan)
An Address delivered at the Annual General Meeting of the Society, on February 12, 1836, on presenting the Honorary Medal to Sir J. F. W. Herschel, 1836 (external scan)
Report upon a Letter (on a Systemic Course of Magnetic Observations) addressed by M. le Baron de Humboldt to His Royal Highness the President of the Royal Society (by S. Hunter Christie and G. B. Airy), 1836 (Proceedings of the Royal Society) (external scan)

1837

Report of the Astronomer Royal to the Board of Visitors, 1837 (Greenwich Observations) (external scan)

1838

On the Intensity of Light in the neighbourhood of a Caustic, 1838 (external scan)
A catalogue of circumpolar stars, 1838 (editor) (external scan)
Continuation of Researches into the Value of Jupiter's Mass, 1838 (external scan)
On the Position of the Ecliptic, as inferred from Observations with the Cambridge Transit and Mural Circle, made in the Year 1835, 1838 (external scan)
Report of the Astronomer Royal to the Board of Visitors, 1838 (Greenwich Observations) (external scan)
Results of the Observations of the Sun, Moon, and Planets, made at the Cambridge Observatory in the Years 1833, 1834, and 1835, 1838 (external scan)
On the Parallax of α Lyræ, 1838 (external scan)
An Address delivered at the Annual General Meeting of the Society, on February 10, 1837, on presenting the Honorary Medal to Professor Rosenberger, 1838 (external scan)

1839

Gravitation, 1839 (Penny Cyclopaedia) (external scan)
Greenwich Observatory, 1839 (Penny Cyclopaedia) (external scan)
Account of experiments on iron-built ships, instituted for the purpose of discovering a correction for the deviation of the compass produced by the iron of the ships, 1839 (external scan)
On the Determination of the Orbits of Comets, from Observations, 1839 (Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society) (external scan)
Report of the Astronomer Royal to the Board of Visitors, 1839 (Greenwich Observations) (external scan)

1840

The Bakerian lecture.— On the theoretical explanation of an apparent new polarity in light, 1840 (external scan)
On the Regulator of the Clock-work for effecting uniform Movement of Equatoreals, 1840 (Montly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society) (external scan)
On the Correction of the Compass in Iron-built Ships, 1840 (The United Service Journal) (external scan)
Remarks on Professor Challis's Investigation of the Motion of a Small Sphere vibrating in a Resisting Medium, 1840 (Philosophical Magazine) (external scan)
Report of the Astronomer Royal to the Board of Visitors, 1840 (Greenwich Observations) (external scan)

1841

Supplement to a paper “On the theoretical explanation of an apparent new polarity in light.", 1841 (external scan)
On the Diffraction of an Annular Aperture, 1841 (Philosophical Magazine) (external scan)
Correction to the paper "On the Diffraction of an Annular Aperture", 1841 (Philosophical Magazine) (external scan)
Remarks on Professor Challis's Reply to Mr Airy's Objections to the Investigation of the Resistance of the Atmosphere to an Oscillating Sphere, 1841 (Philosophical Magazine) (external scan)
Report of the commissioners appointed to consider the steps to be taken for restoration of the standards of weight and measure, 1841 (external scan)
Report of the Astronomer Royal to the Board of Visitors, 1841 (Greenwich Observations) (external scan)

1842

On a New Construction of the Going-Fusee, 1842 (external scan)
On the laws of the rise and fall of the tide in the River Thames, 1842 (external scan)
On the [IKTIS] of Diodorus, 1842 (Athenaeum, Correspondence) (external scan)
Account of the Ordnance Zenith Sector, 1842 (Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society) (external scan)
Tides and Waves, 1842 (Encyclopaedia Metropolitana) (external scan)
Report of the Astronomer Royal to the Board of Visitors, 1842 (Greenwich Observations) (external scan)

1843

On the laws of individual tides at Southampton and at Ipswich, 1843 (external scan)
Observations of the Total Solar Eclipse of 1842 July 7, 1843 (Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society) (external scan)
On Monetary and Metrical Systems, 1843 (Athenaeum) (external scan)
Report of the Astronomer Royal to the Board of Visitors, 1843 (Greenwich Observations) (external scan)
Account of the Northumberland Equatoreal and Dome, attached to the Cambridge Observatory, 1843 (external scan)

1844

Report of the Astronomer Royal to the Board of Visitors, 1844 (external scan)

1845

On the laws of the tides on the coasts of Ireland, as inferred from an extensive series of observations made in connection with the ordnance survey of Ireland, 1845 (external scan)
Speech on delivering the Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society to Capt. Smyth, 1845 (Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society) (external scan)
Report of the Astronomer Royal to the Board of Visitors, 1845 (Greenwich Observations) (external scan)
On Wexford Harbour, 1845 (Parliamentary Papers) (external scan)

1846

On the Flexure of a Uniform Bar supported by a number of equal Pressures applied at equidistant points, 1846 (Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society) (external scan)
On a New Construction of the Divided Eye-Glass Double-Image Micrometer, 1846 (Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society) (external scan)
Report of the Gauge Commissioners, 1846 (external scan)
On the Equations applying to Light under the action of Magnetism, 1846 (Philosophical Magazine) (external scan)
Remarks on Dr Faraday's Paper on Ray-vibrations, 1846 (external scan)
Report of the Astronomer Royal to the Board of Visitors, 1846 (external scan)
Account of the Measurement of an Arc of Longitude between the Royal Observatory of Greenwich and the Trigonometrical Station of Feagh Main, in the Island of Valentia, 1846 (Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society) (external scan)
Account of the Measurement of the Astronomical Difference of Longitude on the Arc of Parallel extending from Greenwich to the Island of Valentia in the South-west of Ireland, and Comparison with the Geodetic Difference of Longitude, 1846 (external scan)
Letter to Sir Robert Harry Inglis, Bart., M.P., in an answer to Sir James South's attack on the Observations at the Greenwich Observatory, 1846 (Athenaeum) (external scan)
On the Bands Formed by the Partial Interception of the Prismatic Spectrum, 1846 (Philosophical Magazine) (external scan)
Account of some circumstances historically connected with the Discovery of the Planet exterior to Uranus, 1846 (Philosophical Magazine) (external scan)
Account of some circumstances historically connected with the Discovery of the Planet exterior to Uranus, 1846 (Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society) (external scan)
Account of some circumstances historically connected with the Discovery of the Planet exterior to Uranus, 1846 (Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society) (external scan)

1847

On a proposed Alteration of Bessel's Method for the Computation of the Corrections by which the Apparent Places of Stars are derived from the Mean Places, 1847 (Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society) (external scan)
Reduction of the Observations of Halley's Comet made at the Cambridge Observatory in the years 1835 and 1836, 1846 (Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society) (external scan)
The Astronomer Royal on Sir David Brewster's New Analysis of Solar Light, 1847 (Philosophical Magazine) (external scan)
On the Name of the New Planet, 1847 (Athenaeum) (external scan)
Mr. Adams and the New Planet, 1847 (Athenaeum) (external scan)
Report of the Astronomer Royal to the Board of Visitors, 1847 (Greenwich Observations) (external scan)
Plan of the Buildings and Grounds of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, with Explanation and History, 1847 (Greenwich Observations) (external scan)
Explanation of Hansen's Perturbations of the Moon by Venus, 1847 (Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society) (external scan)
Results deduced from the Occultations of Stars and Planets by the Moon, observed at Cambridge Observatory from 1830 to 1835, 1847 (Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society) (external scan)

1848

On a Change in the State of an Eye affected with a Mal-formation, 1848 (external scan)
Supplement to a Paper "On the Intenstiy of Light in the neighbourhood of a Caustic", 1848 (external scan)
Abstract of Stuve's "Etudes d'Astronomie Stellaire.", 1848 (Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society) (external scan)
Remarks on Professor Challis's Theoretical Determination of the Velocity of Sound, 1848 (Philosophical Magazine) (external scan)
Report of the Astronomer Royal to the Board of Visitors, 1848 (Greenwich Observations) (external scan)
Explanation of a proposed construction of Zenith Sector: addressed to the Board of Visitors of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, 1848 (Greenwich Observations) (external scan)
On the construction of Chinese Balls, 1848 (Athenaeum) (external scan)

1849

Corrections of the Elements of the Moon's Orbit, deduced from the Lunar Observations made at the Royal Observatory of Greenwich from 1750 to 1830 (Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society) (external scan)
Description of the Instruments and Process used in the Photographic Self-Registration of the Magnetical and Meteorological Instruments, at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, 1849 (Greenwich Observations) (external scan)
Description of the Altitude and Azimuth Instrument erected at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, in the year 1847, 1849 (Greenwich Observations) (external scan)
Astronomy, 1849 (A Manual of Scientific Enquiry) (external scan)
Substance of the Lecture delivered by the Astronomer Royal on the large Reflecting Telescopes of the Earl of Rosse and Mr. Lassell, 1849 (Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society) (external scan)
On a difficulty in the Problem of Sound, 1849 (Philosophical Magazine) (external scan)
Report of the Astronomer Royal to the Board of Visitors, 1849 (Greenwich Observations) (external scan)
On Instruments adapted to the Measure of small Meridional Zenith Distances, 1849 (Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society) (external scan)
On Bell's Calculating Machine, 1849 (Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society) (external scan)
On Lord Rosse's Telescope, 1849 (Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society) (external scan)
Results of the Observations made by the Rev. Fearson Fallows, at the Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope, in the Years 1929, 1830, 1831, 1849 (Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society) (external scan)
On the Method of observing and recording Transits, lately introduced in America; and on some other connected subjects, 1849 (Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society) (external scan)
Exodus of the Israelites, 1849 (Athenaeum) (external scan)

1850

On a Problem of Geodesy, 1850 (Philosophical Magazine) (external scan)
The Exodus from Egypt, 1850 (Athenaeum) (external scan)
The Exodus of the Israelites, 1850 (Athenaeum) (external scan)
Address delivered by the AStronomer Royal, President of the Society, on presenting the Honorary Medal of the Society to M. Otto von Struve, 1850 (Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society) (external scan)
On the Weights to be given to the separate Results for Terrestrial Longitudes, determined by the Observation of Transits of the moon and Fixed Stars, 1850 (Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society) (external scan)
Supplement to a Paper "On the Regulation of the Clock-work for effecting Uniform Movement of Equatoreals", 1850 (Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society) (external scan)
Report of the Astronomer Royal to the Board of Visitors, 1850 (Greenwich Observations) (external scan)
Extract of a Letter from Professor Hansen to the Astronomer Royal, 1850 (Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society) (external scan)
Letter from Mr. Lassell to the Astronomer Royal, 1850 (Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society) (external scan)
On the Present State and Prospects of the Science of Terrestrial Magnetism, 1850 (Philosophical Magazine) (external scan)
Statement concerning Assistance granted by the Admiralty to Hanse, 1850 (Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society) (external scan)

1851

On the relation of the direction of the wind to the age of the moon, as inferred from observations made at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, from 1840 November to 1847 December, 1851 (external scan)

1853

On the eclipses of Agathocles, Thales and Xerxes, 1853 (external scan)

1855

On the computation of the effect of the attraction of mountain-masses, as disturbing the apparent astronomical latitude of stations in geodetic surveys, 1855 (external scan)
On the difference of longitude between the observatories of Brussels and Greeenwich, 1855 (short work) (external scan)
A treatise on trigonometry, 1855 (external scan)

1856

Discussion of the observed deviations of the compass in several ships, wood-built and iron-built : with a general table for facilitating the examination of compass deviations, 1856 (external scan)
Account of pendulum experiments undertaken in the Harton Colliery, for the purpose of determining the mean density of the earth, 1856 (external scan)

1857

Account of the construction of the new national standard of length, and of its principal copies, 1857 (external scan)

1862

On the difference in the magnetic properties of hot-rolled and cold-rolled malleable iron, as regards the power of receiving and retaining induced magnetism of subpermanent character, 1862 (external scan)

1863

On the strains in the Interior of beams, 1863 (external scan)
On the diurnal inequalities of terrestrial magnetism, as deduced from observations made at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, from 1841 to 1857, 1863 (external scan)
First analysis of one hundred and seventy-seven magnetic storms, registered by the magnetic instruments in the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, from 1841 to 1857, 1863 (external scan)

1864

Magnetical errors, compensations, & corrections, with special reference to iron ships and their compasses, 1864 (external scan)
On the Substitution of Methods founded on Ordinary Geometry for Methods based on the General Doctrine of Proportions, in the Treatment of some Geometrical Problems, 1864 (external scan)
Suggestion of a Proof of the Theorem that every Algebraic Equation has a Root, 1864 (external scan)
Supplement to a Proof of the the Theorem that every Algebraic Equation has a Root, 1864 (external scan)

1866

Popular Astronomy: A Series of Lectures Delivered at Ipswich (1866, 5th edition) (external scan)
An elementary treatise on partial differential equations, 1866 (external scan)
On the undulatory theory of optics, 1866 (external scan)
Verification and extension of La Caille's arc of meridian at the Cape of Good Hope, 1866 (editor) (external scan)

1868

Computation of the lengths of the waves of light corresponding to the lines in the dispersion spectrum measured by Kirchhoff, 1868 (external scan)
Comparison of magnetic disturbances recorded by the self-registering magnetometers at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, with magnetic disturbances deduced from the corresponding terrestrial galvanic currents recorded by the self-registering galvanometers of the Royal Observatory, 1868 (external scan)

1869

On the diurnal and annual inequalities of terrestrial magnetism, as deduced from observations made at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, from 1858 to 1863; being a continuation of a communication on the diurnal inequalities from 1841 to 1857, printed in the Philosophical Transactions, 1863. With a note on the lunodiurnal and other lunar inequalities, as deduced from observations extending from 1848 to 1863, 1869 (external scan)

1870

A treatise on magnetism, 1870 (external scan)
Note on an extension of the comparison of magnetic disturbances with magnetic effects inferred from observed terrestrial galvanic currents; and discussion of the magnetic effects inferred from galvanic currents on days of tranquil magnetism, 1870 (external scan)

1871

On sound and atmospheric vibrations with the mathematical elements of music. 1871 (external scan)

1872

Corrections to the computed lengths of waves of light published in the Philosophical Transactions of the year 1868, 1872 (external scan)
Experiments on the directive power of large steel magnets, of bars of magnetized soft iron, and of galvanic coils, in their action on external small magnets. —With appendix, containing an investigation of the attraction of a galvanic coil on a small magnetic mass, 1872 (external scan)

1873

Magnetical observations in the Britannia and Conway tubular iron bridges, 1873 (external scan)

1875

On the algebraical and numerical theory of errors of observations and the combination of observations, 1875 (external scan)

1876

Notes on the earlier Hebrew scriptures, 1876 (external scan)

1878

Reduction of twenty years' photographic records made at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, 1878 (external scan)
On the tides at Malta, 1878 (external scan)

1881

Account of observations of the transit of Venus, 1874, December 8 Published 1881 (editor) (external scan)

1885

Results deduced from the measures of terrestrial magnetic force in the horizontal plane, at the Royal Observatoy, Greenwich, from 1841 to 1876, 1885 (external scan)

1896

Autobiography of Sir George Biddell Airy, 1896 (external scan)

1904

The Lady of the Lake by Sir Walter Scott, 1904 (commentary) (external scan)

Translations

On Encke's Comet. Encke's dissertation contained in no. CCX and CCXI of the Astronomische Nachrichten by Johann Franz Encke (1832)

Works about Airy

Great astronomers by Robert Stawell Ball, 1907 (external scan)
Lectures on ten British physicists of the nineteenth century by Alexander Macfarlane, 1916 (external scan)
"Sketch of Sir G. B. Airy" in Popular Science Monthly, 3 (May 1873)
"Airy, Sir George Biddell," in Alumni Oxonienses: the Members of the University of Oxford, 1715-1886, by Joseph Foster, London: Parker and Co. (1888–1892) in 4 vols.
"Obituary: George Biddell Airy" in Popular Science Monthly, 40 (April 1892)
"Airy, George Biddell," in Dictionary of National Biography, 1901 supplement, London: Smith, Elder, & Co. (1901) in 3 vols.
"Airy, Sir George Biddell," in Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed., 1911)
"Airy, Sir George Biddell," in A Biographical Dictionary of Modern Rationalists (pp. 11−12), (ed.) by Joseph McCabe, London: Watts & Co. (1920)
"Airy, George Biddell," in Men of the Time (eleventh edition), by Thompson Cooper, London: George Routledge and Sons (1884)

Some or all works by this author were published before January 1, 1930, and are in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago. Translations or editions published later may be copyrighted. Posthumous works may be copyrighted based on how long they have been published in certain countries and areas.

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