Goodricke, John

▪ English astronomer

born Sept. 17, 1764, Groningen, Neth.

died April 20, 1786, York, Yorkshire, Eng.

      English astronomer who was the first to notice that some variable stars (stars whose observed light varies noticeably in intensity) were periodic. He also gave the first accurate explanation of such periodic variables.

      Goodricke was deaf and mute throughout his life, probably because of a serious illness he had contracted in childhood. He nevertheless proved to be a bright student and in 1778 he entered Warrington Academy, where he excelled in mathematics and his interest in astronomy was awakened. After leaving the academy in 1781 he started making his own astronomical observations, and in November 1782 he noticed that the brightness of the star known as Algol varied over a period of a few days. By further observations he confirmed these periodic variations and was also able to estimate the period's duration with remarkable accuracy. (Algol's variations in brightness had been noted by an Italian astronomer in the 17th century, but Goodricke was the first to establish the periodic nature of these variations.) Goodricke reported his findings to the Royal Society, and the society awarded him a Copley Medal in 1783.

      In the remainder of his short life Goodricke discovered the variability of two other stars that are visible with the naked eye. More importantly, he suggested that the variability of Algol was due to its being periodically eclipsed by a darker companion body; this theory was eventually confirmed and forms the basis for astronomers' knowledge of the class of stars known as eclipsing variables. Goodricke died at age 21 as a consequence of his exposure to cold night air while making his observations.

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