David Peck Todd (March 19, 1855 – June 1, 1939) was a noted American astronomer. He produced a complete set of photographs of the 1882 transit of Venus. is the 78th day of the year (79th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1855 (MDCCCLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... is the 152nd day of the year (153rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other uses, see Astronomy (disambiguation). ... Year 1882 (MDCCCLXXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The 2004 transit of Venus A transit of Venus across the Sun takes place when the planet Venus passes directly between the Sun and Earth, obscuring a small portion of the Suns disk. ...

Biography

Todd was born in Lake Ridge, New York, the son of Sereno Edwards Todd and Rhoda (Peck) Todd. He prepared at John C. Overhiser's School, Brooklyn, New York. He studied at Columbia University from 1870 to 1872, then at Amherst College from 1873 to 1875, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa in the class of 1875. He earned his M.A. from Amherst in 1878, and a Ph.D. from Washington and Jefferson College in 1888. This article is about the state. ... For other meanings, see Brooklyn (disambiguation). ... Alma Mater Columbia University in the City of New York is a private university in the United States and a member of the Ivy League. ... Amherst College is a private liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts, USA. It is the third oldest college in Massachusetts. ... The Phi Beta Kappa Society is an honor society which considers its mission to be fostering and recognizing excellence in undergraduate liberal arts and sciences. ... Washington and Jefferson College is a private, coeducational, liberal arts college located in Washington, Pennsylvania. ... For the toll-free telephone number see Toll-free telephone number Year 1888 (MDCCCLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

Todd worked at the US Naval Observatory from 1875 to 1878, and at the US Nautical Almanac Office from 1878 to 1881. From 1881 to 1917 he was a professor of astronomy and director of the observatory at Amherst College, and from 1917 onward he was professor emeritus there. From 1882 to 1887, he was also a professor of astronomy and higher mathematics at nearby Smith College. Aerial view of USNO. The United States Naval Observatory (USNO) is one of the oldest scientific agencies in the United States. ... HM Nautical Almanac Office in Britain. ... Smith College is a private, independent womens liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. ...

Todd married Mabel Loomis on March 5, 1879, and had one daughter, Millicent. His wife is reputed to have had an affair with Austin Dickinson, the (married) brother of Emily Dickinson. Their love letters were published in Austin and Mabel: The Amherst Affair & Love Letters of Austin Dickinson and Mabel Loomis Todd (ISBN 0-374-10716-5). Mabel Loomis Todd or Mabel Loomis (November 10, 1856 - October 14, 1932) was an U.S. editor and writer, and wife of astronomer David Peck Todd. ... This article is about the day. ... Year 1879 (MDCCCLXXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Emily Dickinson (December 10, 1830 – May 15, 1886) was an American poet. ...

Astronomical and other accomplishments

Todd designed and erected several observatories, including those at Smith College from 1886 to 1888 and at Amherst College from 1903 to 1906. He established Standard Time in Peru in 1907. He was chief astronomer at the Lick Observatory during the transit of Venus in 1882, and created the first known photographs of the transit. Smith College is a private, independent womens liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. ... Amherst College is a private liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts, USA. It is the third oldest college in Massachusetts. ... The Lick Observatory is an astronomical observatory, owned and operated by the University of California. ... The 2004 transit of Venus A transit of Venus across the Sun takes place when the planet Venus passes directly between the Sun and Earth, obscuring a small portion of the Suns disk. ... Year 1882 (MDCCCLXXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

He was a member of the American Astronomical Society, the Philosophical Society of Washington, and the Japan Society. He was fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Society of Natural and Physical Sciences, Cherbourg, France; the Sociedad Geografica de Lima, Peru. In 1896 he was presented, by the Emperor of Japan, with the Imperial Saké Cup for services in the cause of education in Japan. The American Astronomical Society (AAS) is a US society of professional astronomers and other interested individuals, headquartered in Washington, DC. The main aim of the AAS is provide a political voice for its members and organise their lobbying. ... The Philosophical Society of Washington is the oldest scientific society in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1871 by Joseph Henry. ... The Japan Society of London, founded in 1891, is the oldest and most respected organization dealing with European-Japanese relations. ... The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is an organization that promotes cooperation between scientists, defends scientific freedom, encourages scientific responsibility and supports scientific education for the betterment of all humanity. ... Cherbourg is a city of Normandy, in northwestern France, in the Manche département, of which it is a sous_préfecture. ... For the CPR ocean liner, see Empress of Japan. ...

In addition, Todd was the organizer and leader of a number of important astronomical expeditions:

• The New England eclipse expedition to Texas in 1878
• The American eclipse expedition to Japan in 1887
• A U. S. scientific expedition to West Africa in 1889 and 1890
• The Amherst eclipse expedition to Japan in 1896
• The Lowell eclipse expedition to Tripoli in 1900
• The Amherst eclipse expedition to the Dutch East Indies in 1901
• The Lowell Mars expedition to the Andes, 1907
• Eclipse expeditions to Tripoli in 1905, Russia in 1914, Florida in 1918, and to Brazil and Argentina, 1919.

Todd crater on Phobos (a satellite of Mars) is named after him. In addition, asteroids 511 Davida and 510 Mabellia are named after him and his wife. This article is about the region in the United States of America. ... Official language(s) No official language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Largest metro area Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ...  Western Africa (UN subregion)  Maghreb[1] West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. ... Tripoli (Arabic: طرابلس Tarābulus) is the capital city of Libya. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Phobos (IPA: or [ˈfoÊŠ.bÉ™s]) (systematic designation: ) is the larger and closer of Mars two moons (the other being Deimos). ... A natural satellite is an object that orbits a planet or other body larger than itself and which is not man-made. ... Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the solar system, named after the Roman god of war (the counterpart of the Greek Ares), on account of its blood red color as viewed in the night sky. ... 511 Davida is a main belt asteroid. ...

Writings

• Astronomy: The Science of the Heavenly Bodies. New York: Harper, 1922.

Todd was also the author of New Astronomy; Stars and Telescopes, and many shorter articles. He also edited the Columbian Knowledge Series.

External links

• David Peck Todd article in Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography