A PERSONAL HISTORY OF H.M. NAUTICAL ALMANAC OFFICE
30 October 1930 - 18 February 1972
PART 4. AT HERSTMONCEUX 1949-1972 Chapters 12-17
This period saw further major changes in the activities of the Office, which gradually became integrated in the Royal Greenwich Observatory. The Office installed punched-card machines and later electronic computers for general use. There were major changes in the almanacs and new publications for reference in numerical analysis and positional astronomy. There was an increasing emphasis on research. Sadler became the General Secretary of the International Astronomical Unions and he organised its General Assembly at the University of Sussex just before his retirement.
| Chapter 12 | Early years at Herstmonceux: 1949-1951 |
| Move from Bath to Herstmonceux | |
| Early days at Herstmonceux | |
| Administrative arrangements | |
| The start of the R.G.O. Club | |
| Work of the Office | |
| Visit to U.S.A. in 1949 | |
| Conference on Astronomical Constants in 1950 | |
| Follow-up and other activities | |
| Vacation students | |
| Visit to North America in 1951 | |
| Office appointments and activities in 1950 and 1951 | |
| The Star Almanac for Land Surveyors | |
| Chapter 13 | End of the Spencer Jones era: 1952-1955 |
| Installation of punched-card equipment | |
| Responsibilities of Miss McBain | |
| The lunar occultation programme | |
| I.A.U. General Assembly in Rome in 1952 | |
| Navigational work in 1952-1955 | |
| Institute of Navigation | |
| Visits by navigators | |
| A minor annoyance | |
| Responsibilities of Dr Porter | |
| Visit by Professor Herrick | |
| Activities in 1952-1955 continued | |
| Loss of position in computing | |
| Visit to the U.S.S.R. in 1954 | |
| Conformity of the almanacs | |
| Marriage to Miss F. M. McBain | |
| I.A.U. General Assembly in Dublin in 1955 | |
| The change of Astronomer Royal | |
| Chapter 14 | Woolley becomes Astronomer Royal |
| Woolley's administrative style | |
| Anecdotes about Woolley | |
| Role of the Astronomer Royal | |
| Work of the N.A.O. in 1956-1959 | |
| Visit to Washington and Montreal in 1956 | |
| Committee on the definition of the second | |
| Preparation of Interpolation and Allied Tables | |
| Preparation of Subtabulation | |
| Visit by Wilkins to U.S.A. in 1957-1958 | |
| Prediction service for artificial satellites | |
| N.A.O. accommodation in the West Building | |
| Staffing matters | |
| The I.A.U. General Assembly in Moscow in 1958 | |
| The acquisition of the ICT 1201 computer | |
| Staff changes | |
| The Explanatory Supplement | |
| Other activities in 1958-1959 | |
| Promotion to D.C.S.O. | |
| Chapter 15 | Period as General Secretary of the I.A.U. |
| Relationships of the N.A.O. and R.O.Cape to R.G.O. | |
| Appointment as the A.G.S. of the I.A.U. | |
| Appointment as General Secretary of the I.A.U. | |
| Overseas visits in 1960-1963 | |
| The I.A.U. General Assembly in Hamburg in 1964 | |
| Federation of Astronomical and Geophysical Services | |
| N.A.O. activities in 1960-1964 | |
| Retirement of Dr. Porter | |
| N.A.O. Reunion in 1963 | |
| Replacement of the ICT 1201 computer | |
| Transfer of R.G.O. from the M.o.D. to the S. R. C. | |
| Chapter 16 | Transfer to the S.R.C. |
| Transfer of the R.G.O to the S.R.C. | |
| Activities in 1965-1966 | |
| Celestial mechanics and astronomical constants | |
| The occultation programme | |
| Bicentenary of the Nautical Almanac | |
| Relations with the A.R. | |
| Notes on the staff | |
| Appreciation of the work of Mr. Scott | |
| Retirement of Mr. Scott | |
| Overseas visits in 1996-1967 | |
| The future of the Astronomical Ephemeris | |
| Proposal for a department of celestial mechanics | |
| Aside on the Institute of Theoretical Astronomy | |
| The I.A.U. General Assembly in Prague in 1967 | |
| As President of the R.A.S. and visit of the Queen | |
| Statutes of the I.A.U. | |
| Relations with other ephemeris offices | |
| Chapter 17 | A change of duties |
| Preparations for the I.A.U. General Assembly in Brighton | |
| Events during the I.A.U. General Assembly in 1970 | |
| Activities after the I.A.U. General Assembly | |
| N.A.O. records | |
| Retirement arrangements | |
| Download | PART 4. AT HERSTMONCEUX 1949-1972 pages 99-159; 290 Kb |
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