Alvan Graham Clark makes the first observation of Sirius B, a white dwarf star, through an eighteen-inch telescope at Northwestern University.

It Happened on
January 31, 1862

The observation of Sirius B, also known as the Pup, is significant because it was the first evidence of the existence of a white dwarf star. In 1862, Sirius B was discovered by astronomers Alvan Graham Clark and his son, William Clark, while observing Sirius A, the brightest star in the night sky. They noticed a faint companion star near Sirius A and later determined it was a white dwarf, a type of star that is incredibly dense and has exhausted its fuel for nuclear fusion. The discovery of Sirius B confirmed the theoretical predictions about the nature of white dwarfs and opened up new avenues for the study of stellar evolution and the structure of stars. Today, the observation of Sirius B remains a cornerstone of astronomical research and continues to be studied in detail.

Meanwhile…

 

9 months later was born…


Born on July 10, 1832
(1832 - 1897)

Alvan Graham Clark

American astronomer and telescope-maker

Born on October 26, 1862
(1862 - 1944)

Hilma af Klint

Pioneer in the early development of abstract art and her innovative use of spiritual and symbolic themes

There is another child full of light who was also born along with Alma. Can you find him?

This is the conception day event of 3 people, who also made a difference in history

268 days after the event were born.


Born on October 19, 1862
(1862 - 1954)

Auguste Lumière

French engineer, industrialist, biologist, and illusionist

Born on October 26, 1862
(1862 - 1944)

Hilma af Klint

Pioneer in the early development of abstract art and her innovative use of spiritual and symbolic themes

287 days after the event was born.


Born on July 10, 1832
(1832 - 1897)

Alvan Graham Clark

American astronomer and telescope-maker

Born on November 14, 1862
(1862 - 1939)

Johann Heinrich von Bernstorff

German politician and ambassador to the United States from 1908 to 1917

People featured in this post:


Alvan Graham Clark

American astronomer and telescope-maker

The suppression of uncomfortable ideas may be common in religion or in politics, but it is not the path to knowledge, and there's no place for it in the endeavor of science.
- Carl Sagan