The Astronomical Society of Wales was founded by Arthur Butler Phillips Mee in 1895. Mee was born in Aberdeen, Scotland in October 1860. Shortly after, he moved to Llanelli before settling in Cardiff in 1892, working as a journalist for the Western Mail. Mee displayed a keen interest in astronomy from a young age. When he was seventeen he acquired a telescope and observed Solar System objects such as the Moon and Mars, making detailed drawings of their features. Mee also played a prominent role in encouraging amateur interest in astronomy in Wales, establishing The Astronomical Society of Wales in 1895. The Society organised regular lectures on astronomical subjects and published a journal under the editorship of Mee (see image below). At its peak, membership of the society numbered 200, although it disbanded with the outbreak of the First World War in 1918. Mee Crater on the south-western side of the Moon honours his contribution to astronomy. The Astronomical Society of Wales again became active in the period 1981 to 1994, with various activities as listed on their bookmark issued circa 1981. This bookmark came into my collection via my online purchase of a bulk lot of 1980s bookmarks. I have enjoyed finding out more about the Society through my research. |
Dr. H.P. Wilkins was an engineer and astronomer, particularly a selenographer; selenography is the study of the surface and physical features of the moon. He is famous for producing the Moon Map. In 1951 he published a 300" diameter map of the Moon, considered by some as the culmination of the art of selenography prior to the space age. He also published a number of books intended to popularize astronomy, including two works in collaboration with Sir Patrick Moore. The most notable was his work, The Moon, which included his map. The map was a tool for using at the telescope. Observers would use the sheet showing the area they wanted to focus on, and use the map as a reference guide. The amateur astronomical journal The Strolling Astronomer insisted that “all students of the Moon should have it”. It is also known that The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the United States bought a copy for use during the Apollo Program.
The crater 'Wilkins' on the Moon is named after him.