Person

Wood, Harley Weston (1911 - 1984)

Born
31 July 1911
Gulgong, New South Wales, Australia
Died
26 June 1984
Kenthurst, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation
Astronomer, Author and Educator

Summary

Harley Weston Wood was an astronomer who made significant contributions to the field of astrometry during and after his time as New South Wales Government Astronomer between 1943 and 1974. In this period he completed sections of the Astrographic Catalogue left unfinished with the closure of the Melbourne Observatory. Weston published three books in the field of astrometry, The Southern Sky (1965), Unveiling the universe (1965) and Planets, suns and galaxies. He was influential in the organisation of astronomy in Australia and heavily involved in preparations for the General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union, held in Sydney in 1973.

Details

Chronology

1929 - 1933
Education - Bachelor of Science (First Class Honours in Mathematics and Physics), University of Sydney
1934
Education - Master of Science in Mathematics (Dynamical Astronomy and Relativity), University of Sydney
1936 - 1941
Career position - Assistant Astronomer, Sydney Observatory
1939
Career position - Elected Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society
1939 - 1984
Career position - Member of the Royal Society of New South Wales
1941 - 1943
Career position - Acting Government Astronomer, Sydney Observatory
1943 - 1974
Career position - Government Astronomer, Sydney Observatory
1949 - 1950
Career event - President of the Royal Society of New South Wales
1959 - 1971
Career position - Lectured on spherical astronomy in the Dept. Of Applied Mathematics, University of Sydney
1962
Award - Royal Society of New South Wales Medal
1965
Award - Awarded Doctor of Science for Contributions to Astrometry, University of Sydney
1966 - 1968
Career event - Foundation President of the Astronomical Society of Australia
1966 - 1974
Career position - Chairman, National Committee for Astronomy, Australian Academy of Science
1978 - 1984
Award - Life Member, Astronomical Society of Australia

Related Awards

Related Corporate Bodies

Published resources

Books

  • Wood, H. W., Sydney Observatory, 1858 to 1958 (Sydney: 1958). Details
  • Wood, Harley, The southern sky : astronomy through your own eyes (Sydney: Angus and Robertson, 1965), 120 pp. Details
  • Wood, Harley, Unveiling the universe : the aims and achievements of astronomy (Sydney: Angus and Robertson, 1967), 240 pp. Details
  • Wood, Harley, Planets, suns and galaxies: exploring our environment in space (Cremorne, N.S.W.: Angus and Robertson, 1973), 163 pp. Details
  • Wood, Harley, Sydney Observatory 1958 to 1981 (Sydney: Government Printer, 1982), 14 pp. Details

Book Sections

Journal Articles

Resources

Theses

  • Stevenson, T., 'Measuring the stars and observing the less visible: Australia's participation in the Astrographic Catalogue and Carte du Ciel', Thesis, University of Sydney, 2015, 381 pp. Details

Rebecca Rigby and Helen Cohn

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