Sir Joseph Norman Lockyer
One of the discoverers of helium, Lockyer was a huge advocate of studying the Sun
Joseph Lockyer was an amateur astronomer with a genuine passion for the subject. During the 19th century he would go on to be the co-discoverer of the second most abundant element in our universe and the founder of one of science’s most influential journals: Nature.
Born on 17 May 1836 in Rugby, Warwickshire, England, Lockyer delved into the world of physics concerning celestial bodies in 1859 after the discovery of spectroscopic analysis. This new scientific technique involved splitting up the light from a source into a spectrum, visually similar to a rainbow. This groundbreaking technique opened the door to the study of the elementary make-up of celestial objects, and this was the basis of what made Lockyer a renowned astronomical pioneer.
A tribute to Lockyer in the Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific in 1920 states that his contributions to the realm of astronomical science began in 1866 with studies revolving around solar sunspots. His notes stated that the spectra lines – the lines in a spectrum attributed to the presence of a particular element – were different in sunspots when compared to the photosphere.
In 1868 Lockyer observed solar prominences using his spectrograph and noticed an unusual yet prominent yellow line in the Sun’s spectrum. Previously this had been attributed to sodium. The discrepancy, however, was that it did not occupy any of the same positions as the more well-known sodium lines. This yellow line was given the name ‘helium’ by Lockyer, named after the Greek word ‘Helios’, meaning Sun.
But Lockyer wasn’t the only one to make this discovery. Just after Lockyer’s methodical written description arrived at the Paris Academy of Science, French astronomer Pierre Janssen submitted a similar manuscript of the same discovery. Janssen’s observations were made during the total solar eclipse in August 1868. Because each of these gentlemen had handed in their fascinating work at the same time, they were awarded joint credit.
This fuelled Lockyer’s obsession with spectroscopic analysis of the Sun and other stellar targets. He directed eight expeditions across the world to observe total solar eclipses, including journeys to Sicily in 1870, India in 1871 and India again in 1898. He also began studying the compositions of other stars in the cosmos using his trusted spectroscopic analysis.
In 1869 Lockyer founded the general science journal Nature – which is still published to this day – as a place to share pioneering research of every discipline with like-minded enthusiasts. It is now internationally recognised as a leading scripture for scientific and technological news. For half a century Lockyer was the editor of the journal, and this only ended because his life came to its end.
Lockyer passed away at his home in Salcombe Regis, Devon, on 16 August 1920. His work created profound ripples throughout science and astronomy and resulted in him receiving a knighthood. This all originated from his passion and his ability to build up his knowledge using the new technologies of the time – in this case the spectroscope. Despite his accomplishments, Lockyer was merely an amateur astronomer intrigued about the inner workings of the universe who strived to know more.