Falling stars as seen from the balloon. James Glaisher (1809-1903) was an English meteorologist, aeronaut and astronomer. In 1837 he became Superintendent of the Department of Meteorology and Magnetism at Royal Observatory, Greenwich, where he served for 34 years. In 1845, he published his dew point tables, for the measurement of humidity. He was a founder member of the Meteorological Society (1850) and the Aeronautical Society of Great Britain (1866). He is best remembered as a pioneering balloonist. Between 1862-66 Glaisher made numerous ascents to measure the temperature and humidity of the atmosphere at its highest levels. His ascent on September 5, 1862 broke the world record for altitude, but he passed out around 8, 800 meters before a reading could be taken. Estimates suggest that he rose to more than 9, 500 meters and as much as 10, 900 meters above sea-level. Page 262 of Travels in the Air by James Glaisher, 1871. |