John Ellard Gore: of immensity and minuteness

TL;DR

This paper reviews the life and scientific contributions of John Ellard Gore, highlighting his discoveries in variable and binary stars, and his role in advancing understanding of white dwarf densities.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of Gore's work, emphasizing his pioneering observations and calculations that contributed to stellar astrophysics.

Findings

Discovered several variable stars.

Calculated orbital elements of binary systems.

Provided early evidence of white dwarf densities.

Abstract

John Ellard Gore FRAS, MRIA (1845-1910) was an Irish amateur astronomer and prolific author of popular astronomy books. His main observational interest was variable stars, of which he discovered several, and he served as the first Director of the BAA Variable Star Section. He was also interested in binary stars, leading him to calculate orbital elements of many such systems. He demonstrated that the companion of Sirius, thought by many to be a dark body, was in fact self luminous. In doing so he provided the first indication of the immense density of what later became known as white dwarfs.