When and where was Edmond Halley born?
Edmond Halley was born in Haggerston, Middlesex during the year 1656. His father Edmond Halley Sr. worked as a wealthy soap-maker in London.
Questions about Edmond Halley
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What did Edmond Halley observe on Saint Helena between 1676 and 1678?
Edmond Halley produced the first telescopic catalogue of the southern celestial hemisphere while stationed at Saint Helena from late 1676 to May 1678. This work included descriptions of 341 stars and observations of a transit of Mercury across the Sun.
How did Edmond Halley predict the return of his famous comet?
Edmond Halley used Newton's law of universal gravitation to compute the periodicity of the comet and stated that sightings from 1456, 1531, 1607, and 1682 were actually the same object. He predicted it would return in 1758 though he died before witnessing this event.
What scientific voyages did Edmond Halley command on the Paramour ship?
King William III gave Edmond Halley command of the Paramour ship in 1698 for what was described as the first purely scientific voyage by an English naval vessel. He sailed again in September 1699 until the 6th of September 1700 extending from 52 degrees north to 52 degrees south latitude.
When did Edmond Halley become Astronomer Royal and when did he die?
Edmond Halley succeeded John Flamsteed in 1720 as Astronomer Royal and held this position until his death in 1742 at age 85. He received honorary doctor of laws degree from Oxford University in 1710.