John Dreyer

John Louis Emil Dreyer (February 13, 1852 – September 14, 1926) was a Danish-Irish astronomer. He was born Johan Ludvig Emil Dreyer in Copenhagen. In 1874, at the age of 22, he went to Ireland to work as the assistant of Lord Rosse (the son and successor of the Lord Rosse who built the Leviathan of Parsonstown telescope). In 1878 he went to Dunsink Observatory and in 1882 to Armagh Observatory, where he served as director until 1916. He won the G... more

John Louis Emil Dreyer (February 13, 1852 – September 14, 1926) was a Danish-Irish astronomer. He was born Johan Ludvig Emil Dreyer in Copenhagen. In 1874, at the age of 22, he went to Ireland to work as the assistant of Lord Rosse (the son and successor of the Lord Rosse who built the Leviathan of Parsonstown telescope). In 1878 he went to Dunsink Observatory and in 1882 to Armagh Observatory, where he served as director until 1916. He won the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1916. A crater on the far side of the Moon is named after him. His major contribution was the monumental New General Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars (based on William Herschels Catalogue of Nebulae ), whose catalogue numbers are still in wide use today, as well as two supplementary Index Catalogues. Dreyer was also a historian of astronomy. In 1890 he published a biography of Tycho Brahe, a noted astronomer from his native country, and in his later years he edited Tycho's publications... less