Book on William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse

Hello comrades! I am very much fascinated by the discoveries of William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, to me he had the JWST of his time! However cannot seem to find any books on that matter. Recommendations? Thanks!

Aah yes, the Leviathan of Parsonstown and Birr Castle! 

There are obviously links like: https://www.skyatnig...viathans-legacy

You might also look at The History of the Telescope, by Henry C. King. A very interesting read https://www.amazon.c...y/dp/0486432653

Much of chapter 10 is devoted to his work.

Edited by gstrumol, 15 March 2024 - 09:35 PM.

Here's one: William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse: Astronomy and the castle in nineteenth-century Ireland

And a rather more rare one by Patrick Moore: The Astronomy of Birr Castle

I didn't realize the first one had come out in paperback.  Just grabbed a copy for myself...

Another very detailed work that covers Rosse and his observations (along with other visual observers) is Observing by Hand by Omar W. Nasim.

Wolfgang Steinicke's book Observing and Cataloguing Nebulae and Star Clusters has quite a bit about Rosse and his assistants as this book is pretty much a history of the NGC and observations from Birr Castle make up a good portion of that catalog.

Great Astronomers by Robert S. Ball also has a short biography.

I came to this thread to answer with: Observing by Hand, but BrentKnight beat me to it!

I came to this thread to answer with: Observing by Hand, but BrentKnight beat me to it!

A double recommendation counts even more!

Hello comrades! I am very much fascinated by the discoveries of William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, to me he had the JWST of his time! However cannot seem to find any books on that matter. Recommendations? Thanks!

There is also The Scientific Papers of William Parsons, Third earl of Rosse 1800 - 1867

        Cambridge Library Collection, 2011

Loads of information and sketches from his work over the years.

Thanks to everybody for chipping in! I realized I had The History of the Telescope in my possession and started reading the X chapter, looks like Rosse was into segmented mirrors way before than JWST(I am also intrigued now about the previous chapters, apparently people thought refractors could supersede reflectors  at the time)! Went ahead and ordered The Scientific Papers of William Parsons, Third earl of Rosse 1800 - 1867 as well. Will try to look into the other suggestions when I get a chance.

Edited by javad, 18 March 2024 - 12:50 AM.

Edited by JohnFlannery, 19 March 2024 - 05:47 PM.

You might also be interested in this book

https://www.amazon.c...books,66&sr=1-1

I echo all the recommendations above and hope you get a chance to visit historic Birr Castle. It is just 20 miles from my home town (Nenagh, Co. Tipperary).
 

John,

My wife and I spent most of last winter (2023) in Clare, specifically Kilshanny.  We spent a day and night in Birr in early March ... the day it snowed actually.  It kind of put a different look on the 72" as well as the gardens.

And added an interesting touch to driving back along those twisting, now 'white' roads, which nicely matched my knuckles on the steering wheel.  Thankfully, there was a pint or three at our regular pub that evening to take the edge off.  Growing up in a semi-tropical climate, not to mention normally driving on the other side of the road, did not quite prepare me for that day's road trip.

Pat,

Now that's really weird. You could have stopped by for a cup of tea, a chat and a look through my old 12" Newtonian!

Mike Swan, Kilshanny.

Pat,

 

Now that's really weird. You could have stopped by for a cup of tea, a chat and a look through my old 12" Newtonian!

 

Mike Swan, Kilshanny.

Mike, are you on N67 by any chance?  And have a domed observatory?  

Pat, that's me. A grey 50 old Austin Roberts 8ft diameter fiberglass observatory.

Sorry for the late reply Pat. Definitely get in touch if you are in the area again.

Paul Tipper and I met you at the Whirlpool Star Party one year when we observed in the lee of the Leviathan and you guys then headed on to Dooley’s. I casually picked up a copy of Amateur Astronomy

magazine from Bob Summerfield’s table at RTMC Astro-Expo the following year and was amazed to find an article by yourself about the star party, including the nightclub visit! 
 

all the best.

john

Edited by JohnFlannery, 01 April 2024 - 03:57 PM.

Sorry for the late reply Pat. Definitely get in touch if you are in the area again.

 

Paul Tipper and I met you at the Whirlpool Star Party one year when we observed in the lee of the Leviathan and you guys then headed on to Dooley’s. I casually picked up a copy of Amateur Astronomy

magazine from Bob Summerfield’s table at RTMC Astro-Expo the following year and was amazed to find an article by yourself about the star party, including the nightclub visit! 
 

all the best.

 

john

2005. I'll remember that trip forever ... thanks for making me feel at home.  And please give my best to Paul.  Any chance the Whirlpool Star Party will ever make a comeback?