Image Courtesy: Google Doodle
Percival Lowell (13 March 1855 – 12 November 1916) was an American astronomer, mathematician, and author who is best known for his work in the field of planetary astronomy. He is particularly famous for his observations and theories regarding the planet Mars.
Life and Career
Lowell was born on 13 March 1855 into a wealthy Boston family. He attended Harvard University, where he studied mathematics and astronomy. After graduation, he spent several years traveling the world, during which time he became interested in the study of Mars.
In 1894, Lowell founded the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, with the specific goal of studying Mars. Over the next two decades, he made numerous observations and took detailed photographs of the planet. Based on his observations, he formulated a theory that Mars was crisscrossed by a series of canals, which he believed were evidence of an advanced civilization on the planet.
Lowell’s theories about Mars were controversial, and many scientists of his time disagreed with his interpretations of the data. However, his work helped to inspire a generation of scientists and science fiction writers, and his ideas about life on other planets helped to spark popular imagination.
In addition to his work in astronomy, Lowell was also an accomplished author. He wrote several books on astronomy and other scientific topics, as well as a number of works of fiction.
Lowell died on 12 November 1916 at the age of 61. Despite the controversy surrounding his ideas about Mars, his legacy as a pioneering astronomer and thinker continues to be celebrated by scientists and science enthusiasts around the world.
Award and Legacy
Percival Lowell’s contributions to astronomy and planetary science have had a lasting impact on the field. His work on Mars helped to inspire generations of scientists and science fiction writers, and his ideas about the possibility of life on other planets helped to shape the popular imagination.
In recognition of his contributions, Lowell was awarded numerous honors and awards during his lifetime. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1897, and he received an honorary degree from his alma mater, Harvard University, in 1909. In 1911, he was awarded the Royal Astronomical Society’s Gold Medal, one of the highest honors in astronomy.
Lowell’s legacy is also evident in the continued importance of the Lowell Observatory, which he founded in 1894. The observatory has played a key role in the study of the solar system and the universe, and it remains a center of scientific research and discovery to this day.
Overall, Percival Lowell’s contributions to astronomy and planetary science helped to shape our understanding of the universe and our place in it. His legacy continues to be celebrated by scientists and science enthusiasts around the world.
On 13 March 2006, Google celebrated Percival Lowell’s 151st Birthday with a doodle.