Percival Lowell

Percival Lowell
James E. Purdy / Adam Cuerden · Public domain · source
Name	Percival Lowell
Birth date	March 13, 1855
Birth place	Boston, Massachusetts
Death date	November 12, 1916
Death place	Flagstaff, Arizona
Nationality	American
Fields	Astronomy, Mathematics

Percival Lowell was a renowned American astronomer, mathematician, and author who made significant contributions to the field of astronomy, particularly in the study of Mars and the Solar System. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, he was a member of the Lowell family, a prominent Boston family that included notable figures such as James Russell Lowell and Amy Lowell. Lowell's work was influenced by Camille Flammarion, a French astronomer and author, and he was also associated with the Harvard College Observatory and the United States Naval Observatory. His research and writings were widely recognized, and he was a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences.

● Early Life and Education

Percival Lowell was born on March 13, 1855, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Augustus Lowell and Katherine Bigelow Lowell. He was a member of the Lowell family, a prominent Boston family that included notable figures such as James Russell Lowell, a poet and diplomat, and Amy Lowell, a poet and critic. Lowell attended Harvard University, where he studied mathematics and astronomy under the guidance of Benjamin Peirce, a mathematician and astronomer. He graduated from Harvard University in 1876 and later traveled to Asia, where he developed an interest in astronomy and mathematics, inspired by the works of Isaac Newton and Pierre-Simon Laplace. During his travels, he visited Japan, China, and Korea, and wrote about his experiences in The Soul of the Far East, a book that explored the culture and history of East Asia.

● Career and Research

Lowell's career in astronomy began in the 1890s, when he established a private observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. He was influenced by the work of Giovanni Schiaparelli, an Italian astronomer who had discovered the canals of Mars, and Asaph Hall, an American astronomer who had discovered the moons of Mars. Lowell's research focused on the planet Mars and the Solar System, and he made several important discoveries, including the observation of the polar ice caps on Mars and the study of the atmosphere of Venus. He was also interested in the search for life on Mars and the possibility of intelligent life in the universe, topics that were also explored by Carl Sagan and Frank Drake. Lowell's work was recognized by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific and the Royal Astronomical Society, and he was a fellow of the American Philosophical Society and the National Academy of Sciences.

● Mars and

the Canals Lowell's most famous research was on the planet Mars and the canals of Mars, which he believed were evidence of an intelligent civilization on the planet. He was influenced by the work of Giovanni Schiaparelli, who had first observed the canals of Mars in 1877, and Camille Flammarion, who had written about the possibility of life on Mars. Lowell's observations of Mars were made using a telescope at his private observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, and he published his findings in several books, including Mars and Mars and Its Canals. His research on Mars was widely recognized, and he was a leading figure in the field of planetary science, along with William Pickering and Eugene Shoemaker. However, his theories about the canals of Mars were later disputed by other astronomers, including Eugene Antoniadi and Andrew Crommelin, who suggested that the canals were actually optical illusions.

● Founding of

the Lowell Observatory In 1894, Lowell founded the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, which became a major center for astronomical research in the United States. The observatory was equipped with a telescope and other astronomical instruments, and it was used to study the Solar System and the universe. The Lowell Observatory was also used to search for Pluto, a dwarf planet that was discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh, an American astronomer who worked at the observatory. The Lowell Observatory is still in operation today, and it is one of the most important astronomical research centers in the world, along with the Palomar Observatory and the Mauna Kea Observatory.

● Personal Life and Later Years

Lowell was a member of the Boston Brahmin class, and he was known for his wealth and social status. He was also a traveler and a writer, and he published several books on astronomy and travel. Lowell was married to Constance Savage Keith, and he had no children. He died on November 12, 1916, in Flagstaff, Arizona, and he was buried in Flagstaff. His legacy was recognized by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences, and he is still remembered as one of the most important astronomers of the 20th century, along with George Ellery Hale and Harlow Shapley.

● Legacy and Impact

Lowell's legacy is still felt today, and his research on Mars and the Solar System continues to influence the field of astronomy. The Lowell Observatory is still in operation, and it is one of the most important astronomical research centers in the world. Lowell's work on Mars also inspired later astronomers, including Carl Sagan and Frank Drake, who searched for life on Mars and the possibility of intelligent life in the universe. The Percival Lowell Award is given annually by the Lowell Observatory to recognize outstanding contributions to the field of astronomy, and the Lowell crater on the Moon is named in his honor, along with the Lowell crater on Mars. Lowell's work also influenced the development of space exploration, and his ideas about the possibility of life on Mars continue to inspire NASA and other space agencies around the world. Category:Astronomers