William Frederick Denning (25 November 1848 – 9 June 1931) was a British amateur astronomer who achieved considerable success without formal scientific training.[1][2][3] He is known for his catalogues of meteor radiants, observations of Jupiter's red spot, and for the discovery of five comets.[4] Outside astronomy, as a young man, Denning showed prowess at cricket to the extent W G Grace invited him to play for Gloucestershire. However Denning's retiring nature made him decline the offer.[1]
William Frederick Denning | |
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Born | 25 November 1848 |
Died | 9 June 1931 Bristol, England | (aged 82)
Occupation | Accountant |
Denning devoted a great deal of time to searching for comets, and discovered five of them, including the periodic comet 72P/Denning–Fujikawa and the lost comet D/1894 F1. The latter was the last comet discovered on British soil until the discoveries of George Alcock.
Denning also studied meteors and novae, discovering Nova Cygni 1920 (V476 Cyg). From 1869 Denning held the combined post of secretary and treasurer of the short-lived Observing Astronomical Society.[5] Denning was elected to the Royal Astronomical Society on 8 June 1877.[6] He was also elected to the British Astronomical Association on 26 October 1898.[7] Subsequently, directed its Comet (1891–1893) and Meteor (1899–1900) Sections.[8] He won the Prix Valz of the French Academy of Sciences for 1895.[9]
During his life, Denning published 1179 articles[10] in prominent scientific journals including Nature, The Observatory, Astronomische Nachrichten, Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Journal des Observateurs, and Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.[11]