Robert Wood with a mercury mirror

Credit: EMILIO SEGRE VISUAL ARCHIVES/AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Restrictions: Editorial use only

Caption: Robert Williams Wood (1868-1955), US physicist, in his laboratory with a mercury mirror (lower left). Wood is best known for his work on optics, including infrared and ultraviolet photography. In 1909, he used mercury to construct the first practical liquid mirror, for use in telescopes. He also developed a glass for use in ultraviolet lamps, as well as studying ultraviolet fluorescence. His honours included the Rumford Medal of the Royal Society, London, and the Henry Draper Medal of the US National Academy of Sciences.

Release details: Model release not available. Property release not required.

Keywords: 1900s, 1909, 20th century, adult, american, astronomer, astronomical, astronomy, black-and-white, caucasian, chicago, equipment, experiment, experimental, experimenting, henry draper medal, historical, history, history of science, human, infrared, laboratory, liquid mirror, male, man, mercury mirror, monochrome, north america, north american, optical, optics, people, person, physical, physicist, physics, research, researching, robert williams wood, rumford medal, scientist, spectroscopy, telescope equipment, ultraviolet fluorescence, ultraviolet lamp, ultraviolet photography, united states, us, usa, wood glass, wood lamp

Licence fees: A licence fee will be charged for any media (low or high resolution) used in your project.