Thomas Henderson | |
|---|---|
&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:Thomas_James_Henderson,_1798-1844_Henderson-01r.jpg) Thomas Henderson, c.1820s Scottish Astronomer Royal | |
| Born | 28 December 1798 Dundee, Scotland |
| Died | 23 November 1844 (aged 45) |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Known for | distance to Alpha Centauri |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | astronomy |
| Institutions | City Observatory, Edinburgh |
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Thomas Henderson FRSE FRS FRAS (28 December 1798 – 23 November 1844) was a Scottish astronomer and mathematician noted for being the first person to measure the distance to Alpha Centauri, the major component of the nearest stellar system to Earth, the first to determine the parallax of a fixed star, and for being the first Astronomer Royal for Scotland.