What is recorded here
This blue commemorative plaque records: Thomas J. A. Henderson FRS FRSE (1798-1844). Lived here 1840-44. Scotland's first Astronomer Royal 1834-44. from the Cape Observatory he made the first ever measurement (1831-33) of a stellar distance. Recorded plaque organisation: Institute of Physics.
Thomas J. A. Henderson FRS FRSE was Scotland's first Astronomer Royal and is remembered for making the first direct measurement of the distance to a star, Alpha Centauri, from the Cape Observatory in 1831-1833.
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Places near here
Edinburgh, 6 Hillside CrescentTerraced House (19th Century) · 60 yd
Edinburgh, London Road, Royal Terrace Gardens, Royal Terrace HouseHouse (19th Century) (1836) · 61 yd
Calton Hill-EdinburghMountain or hill · 149 yd
Holodomor MemorialMemorial · 157 yd
Edinburgh, London RoadBurial(s) (15th Century) - (17th Century), Burial Ground (15th Century) - (17th Century) · 223 yd
Edinburgh, Leith Walk, London Road Roundabout, ClockClock (period Unassigned) · 238 yd
Modern roof garden from Calton HillMountain or hill · 277 yd
Calton HillMountain / peak · 305 yd
The HillsideGallery · 383 yd
National Monument of ScotlandHeritage attraction · 394 yd
Calton Hill viewed from Edinburgh CastleCastle, fort or tower · 401 yd
Thomas Henderson MemorialMemorial · 408 ydOther information
Photo: gnomonic · CC BY 2.0