History

Understanding Forces

We know today of 4 different forces which rule the world around us.

A sepia-toned photograph of Albert Einstein standing in front of a chalkboard, holding a piece of chalk. He is dressed in a formal suit and is slightly smiling, with part of a chalk drawing visible behind him — Albert Einstein during a lecture in Vienna in 1921

One of the first people to study light was Ibn al-Haytham (known as Alhazen). He was a Muslim, living in Egypt in the early 11th Century. Alhazen is first person we know of who used the scientific method. He wanted to know why our eyes could see things.

A simple experiment using paper and a light source to show light travels in straight lines.. — A simple experiment using paper and a light source to show light travels in straight lines

Fiammetta Wilson

Occupation

Astronomer, Musician

Year born

1864

Research Areas

Meteors

A black and white photograph of Fiammetta Wilson

This work by James Lafayette (1915) is licensed under Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal

William Herschel

Occupation

Astronomer & Musician

Year born

1738

Research Areas

Astronomy, Spectroscopy

A portrait of William Herschel, the renowned astronomer who discovered the planet Uranus. He is depicted wearing 18th-century attire with a white cravat and brown coat, looking thoughtfully into the distance

This work by L F Abbott is licensed under Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal

Tycho Brahe

Occupation

Astronomer

Year born

1546

Research Areas

Astronomy, Supernovae, Mechanics

A formal portrait of Tycho Brahe, the renowned Danish astronomer, dressed in elaborate 16th-century attire, with a distinctive ruffled collar and gold chains. He holds a sword and is adorned with rings and a medallion. Latin inscriptions are present in the background, along with symbolic illustrations

This work by Wikimedia Sverige is licensed under Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal

Claudius Ptolemy

Occupation

Mathematician, Astronomer, Geographer

Year born

100 AD

Research Areas

Movements of planets and stars, Cartography

A painting of Claudius Ptolemy. He is sat down and holding a gold armillary sphere model in one hand.

This work by Joos van Ghent and Pedro Berruguete (1476) is licensed under Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal

Isaac Newton

Occupation

Mathematician, Astronomer, and Physicist

Year born

1643

Research Areas

Optics, maths, motion, gravity

A portrait of Sir Isaac Newton, painted by Godfrey Kneller in 1689. Newton is depicted with long, wavy hair, wearing a dark robe, and has a serious, contemplative expression, reflecting his intellectual stature as a key figure in the scientific revolution

This work by G Kneller is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

Patrick Moore

Occupation

Astronomer, Writer, Broadcaster

Year born

1923

Research Areas

he Moon, the Planets, Star Catalogues

A photograph of Sir Patrick Moore, the British astronomer and broadcaster, wearing a dark suit and blue tie. He appears serious, standing in front of a brick building with part of a sign visible in the background

This work by South Downs Planetarium is licensed under Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal

Maria Mitchell

Occupation

Astronomer, Educator, Librarian

Year born

1818

Research Areas

Comets, Solar Eclipse, Planets, Double Stars, Nebulae

A painting of Maria Mitchell. She is sat down, using one hand to hold the end of a telescope whilst she looks through it.

This work by H. Dassel (1851) is licensed under Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal

Johannes Kepler

Occupation

Astronomer, Mathematician, Scientist, Teacher

Year born

1571

Research Areas

Planetary motion, Optics, Geometry

A painting of Johannes Kepler. He is stood with a hand on his hip. There is a table in front of him with parchment papers and a globe placed on it.

Understanding Forces

Light and Telescopes

Fiammetta Wilson

Occupation

Year born

Research Areas

William Herschel

Occupation

Year born

Research Areas

Tycho Brahe

Occupation

Year born

Research Areas

Claudius Ptolemy

Occupation

Year born

Research Areas

Isaac Newton

Occupation

Year born

Research Areas

Patrick Moore

Occupation

Year born

Research Areas

Maria Mitchell

Occupation

Year born

Research Areas

Johannes Kepler

Occupation

Year born

Research Areas

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