A History of Hoyle in 10 Objects

1: A Childhood Letter

This letter was written by Fred Hoyle to his father when Fred was about 15 years old. Fred and his mother Mabel were visiting friends in Dartford. During their stay they visited Clarksons optical stores on High Holborn in central London, and bought a telescope. This letter describes the first time Fred used the telescope, including observations of the sun using the solar filter, and night-time observations of the stars Mizar (Zeta Ursae Majoris), Arcturus (Alpha Boötis), and Sirius (Alpha Canis Majoris). Fred includes a drawing of the planet Saturn as seen through the telescope, described as a 'beautiful sight'.

Find out more: Hoyle's youth.

Hoyle in 10 Objects: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10

Hoyle's Youth | Hoyle in Cambridge | Steady-State Universe | Stellar Nucleosynthesis | Hoyle vs Ryle | Institute of Theoretical Astronomy | Hoyle on the Radio | Hoyle the Writer | Hoyle the Polymath | Honours and Medals

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