Robert Burnham Jr.
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Robert 'Bob' Burnham, Jr, was a United States astronomer. He is best known in astronomical circles for his classic work "Burnham's Celestial Handbook".
Burnham developed an interest in astronomy at a young age, and in 1957 discovered a comet. This led to an appointment at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. A position he retained until 1979 when funding was no longer available.
While at the observatory, in addition to his duties, he discovered five additional comets, and, using the extensive Lowell library, composed this handbook. This was a work clearly superior to any else available, and proved immediately popular with the amateur astronomy community. The work was in three volumes, and it discussed in great detail the objects visible to amateur telescopes in each constellation.
After Burnham left Lowell his life took a turn to the worse. He had some difficulty coping, and spent his last years selling sketches of cats in Balboa Park, San Diego, California. He died unknown and alone, however, he is well remembered in the astronomical community.
An element of confusion existed between this Burnham, and a science writer and astronomer also named Robert Burnham. As this latter Burnham had a successful career, the confusion in identity caused many who knew of Burnham Jr to assume that he was alive and well.
Burnham developed an interest in astronomy at a young age, and in 1957 discovered a comet. This led to an appointment at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. A position he retained until 1979 when funding was no longer available.
While at the observatory, in addition to his duties, he discovered five additional comets, and, using the extensive Lowell library, composed this handbook. This was a work clearly superior to any else available, and proved immediately popular with the amateur astronomy community. The work was in three volumes, and it discussed in great detail the objects visible to amateur telescopes in each constellation.
After Burnham left Lowell his life took a turn to the worse. He had some difficulty coping, and spent his last years selling sketches of cats in Balboa Park, San Diego, California. He died unknown and alone, however, he is well remembered in the astronomical community.
An element of confusion existed between this Burnham, and a science writer and astronomer also named Robert Burnham. As this latter Burnham had a successful career, the confusion in identity caused many who knew of Burnham Jr to assume that he was alive and well.
Books By Robert Burnham Jr.
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