Wilbur Adelman Cogshall

Wilbur Adelman Cogshall (February 8, 1874 – October 5, 1951) was an American astronomer known for his work on visual binary stars and solar eclipses.

Wilbur Adelman Cogshall
Wilbur Adelman Cogshall from the Indiana University faculty and staff portraits.
Born	(1874-02-08)February 8, 1874 Benton Harbor, Michigan, U.S.
Died	October 5, 1951(1951-10-05) (aged 77) Winnebago, Illinois, U.S.
Education	Albion College (B.S.) Indiana University (M.A.)
Known for	Work on Visual Binary stars and solar eclipses
Spouse	Harriet Sarah Bayliss
Children	Wilbur B. Cogshall, Sarah L. Cogshall, Frederick John Cogshall
Scientific career
Fields	Astronomy
Institutions	Indiana University, Lowell Observatory

Early life and education

Wilbur Adelman Cogshall was born on February 8, 1874, in Benton Harbor, Michigan, to Wilbur Israel Cogshall and Martha Leavitt. He completed his undergraduate studies at Albion College, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1895. In 1902, Cogshall obtained his master’s degree from Indiana University.

Career

Early career

Cogshall began working at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, where he became an expert in measuring visual binary stars. His work there caught the attention of Indiana University, which hired him in 1900 to assist with research using a new 12-inch refracting telescope at the Kirkwood Observatory.

Academic contributions

Cogshall was appointed an assistant professor of astronomy at Indiana University in 1904, and later became a full professor. He made significant contributions to the field of astronomy, including participating in four solar eclipse expeditions to study the solar corona. Cogshall was instrumental in building the Schwarzschild telescope near Bloomington, Indiana.

Notable achievements

In 1929, Cogshall served as the chief scientist for the U.S. Naval Observatory's solar eclipse expedition to the Philippine Islands. Cogshall oversaw the photographic observations of the solar eclipse of May 9, 1929.

Personal life

Cogshall married Harriet Sarah Bayliss, and had three children: Wilbur B. Cogshall, Sarah L. Cogshall, and Frederick John Cogshall. Cogshall died on October 5, 1951, in Winnebago, Illinois.

Legacy

Cogshall's work at Indiana University and his contributions to the study of visual binary stars and solar eclipses left a lasting impact on the field of astronomy. His research and achievements continue to be remembered and respected within the scientific community of astronomy.

References

• "Kirkwood Observatory: History". Indiana University Bloomington. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
• "Astronomy Tree: Wilbur Adelman Cogshall Family Tree". Academic Tree. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
• "Wilbur Adelman Cogshall". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 2024-07-20.