Charles Hugh Smiley (September 6, 1903 – July 26, 1977) was an Americanastronomer and academic, and the author of a column on astronomy, "Planets and Stars" (Providence Journal, 1938–1957).[1] The main beltasteroid1613 Smiley is named after him. He was considered "one of the world’s leading authorities oneclipses."[2]
Smiley led expeditions to South America, Canada, Asia, and the US to study solar eclipses and observed thesolar eclipse of July 20, 1963 from a U.S. Air ForceF-104D Starfightersupersonic aircraft that was "racing the moon's shadow" at 1,300 mph (2,100 km/h) extending the duration of totality.[4] He also conducted several expeditions between 1947 and 1952 to study "atmospheric refraction at low angular altitudes."[1] He also studied theMayan calendar, and "was able to date the Mayan Codices of Dresden, Paris, and Madrid from astronomical dates which they contained."[1]
—This planet is named in honor of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island. ... Its astronomical history dates back to the transit of Venus in 1769, observed by Prof.Benjamin West. Two local streets are named Planet and Transit. The naming of the planet is also a tribute to the international reputation of Dr. Smiley.[5]
Smiley, Charles H. (1929). "Indeterminateness in Leuschner's method of differential correction of orbits".The Astronomical Journal.39: 54.doi:10.1086/104886.
^Smiley, Charles H. (February 1964). "Racing the Moon's Shadow on July 20, 1963".Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.58 (1):10–12.Bibcode:1964JRASC..58...10S.The United States Air Force provided an F-104D, a Starfighter made by Lockheed, and Major William A. Cato piloted the plane from Kirkland Air Force Base in New Mexico to Uplands Airport, Ottawa.
