When solar storms charge out from the sun, we often compare them to the Carrington Event from 1859. Recently, a portrait of Richard Carrington, the British astronomer behind this event, has surfaced. It’s a rare find that brings a face to the name of a figure who significantly impacted solar science.
On September 1, 1859, Carrington witnessed a solar flare using a telescope. This was the first solar flare recorded, and it set off a geomagnetic storm when it reached Earth about 17 hours later. The storm disrupted telegraph systems, shocking operators and igniting fires in some offices. Auroras, bright light displays typically found in the polar regions, were seen as far south as Panama due to the storm’s intensity, which remains unmatched to this day.
Historically, the effects of solar activity on Earth were not understood then. Carrington had observed the flare just a day prior, making him the first to connect solar flares with geomagnetic disturbances. “That link later gave birth to the science of space weather,” said Mark Miesch, a researcher at NOAA. Despite his critical role in astronomy, Carrington’s name isn’t well-known.
After 150 years of being a mystery, Kate Bond, an archivist at the Royal Astronomical Society, uncovered a photograph of Carrington. This finding was inspired by reading Stuart Clark’s “The Sun Kings,” which expressed a desire to see Carrington’s likeness. Even earlier research papers had noted the absence of images of him.
Bond explored archives and museums, searching for a record of Carrington’s portrait without success. The breakthrough came when she joked about searching for Maull & Polyblank studio photographs online. On eBay, she found a photo labeled “the late Carrington,” which turned out to hold significant clues. The young man in the photograph matched Carrington’s age.
What confirmed the photo’s identity was a faint inscription that became visible under light, verifying Carrington’s connection to it. This inscription suggested ownership by Charles Vincent Walker, a friend and fellow astronomer.
Dr. Ed Cliver, an expert on solar science, pointed out that Carrington made substantial discoveries about the sun over nine years. He was awarded the Royal Astronomical Society Gold Medal in 1859 for his work on circumpolar stars and contributed significantly to our understanding of sunspot cycles.
Today, solar storms like the Carrington Event occur roughly every 500 years, with lesser storms happening about every 50 years. Lyndsay Fletcher, a professor of astrophysics, praised Bond’s research as a stroke of luck and hard work. “It’s amazing to see the face of the dedicated and skillful scientist responsible for discoveries that still puzzle us today,” she said.
The new portrait adds depth to a legacy intertwined with the sun’s mysteries and offers a glimpse into the life of a pioneering astronomer.
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