John Lays
John Pond (1767 - September 7th 1836) is a British astronomer .
Lays is born with London where his/her father made fortune in the trade. It enters to the Trinity College at the 16 years age but receives there no diploma, its studies are stopped by several severe pulmonary attacks which blocks it with residence. In 1800 it settles in Westbury close to Bristol and starts to determine the position of stars with an azimuth circle and altitude 80 centimetres in diameter manufactured by Edward Troughton. It makes a demonstration in 1806 to show the beneficial effect of the change in form of the mural Quadrant of the observatory of Greenwich which leads to the adoption of its idea and its nomination with the head of the observatory. He is elected member of the Royal Society the February 26th 1807. The same year it Marie and comes to live in London. It succeeds Nevil Maskelyne like Astronomer Royal.
During its administration, Pond carries out a reform of practical astronomy in England comparable with that carried out Friedrich Bessel in Germany. In 1821 it starts to use reflectors and one 1825 it manages to combine the use of an observation direct and indirect via reflectors to examine the same object. Under its auspices the equipment of Greenwich was completely changed and the number of increased assistant from one to six. The precision of measurements of Lays was attested by Seth Carlo Chandler in 1894, during its research on the variations of latitude. Lays engages in a persistent controversy (1810-1824) with John Brinkley on a question of drift of the position of stars during the year, Pond ends up proving that this drift does not exist. It is also briefly superintendant of the nautical almanac (1829-1831). Health issues pushes it to be withdrawn with the autumn 1835.
The Royal Society decrees the to him Médaille Copley in 1823 and the Prix Lalande is allotted to him by the Academy of Science, of which he is member corresponding, in 1817. It publishes eight volumes of observations, translated the Système of the world of Pierre-Simon Laplace and contributes to more than 30 articles. Its catalog of 1.112 stars (1833) was of a great value.
Like Royal Astronomer, Pond is responsible for substantial change at the observatory of Greenwich as well from the point of view of the equipment as of new practices of work. Its more notable modification is undoubtedly the installation of the time first Boule on the roof of the observatory, the first public signal in Great Britain making it possible to synchronize the Chronomètre S of the sailors.
He dies in Blackheath and is buried beside Edmond Halley and close to Nathaniel Bliss in the cemetery of St Margaret in the surroundings of Lee, London.
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