What is the Astronomer Royal?
Q: What is the Astronomer Royal?
A: The Astronomer Royal is a senior post in the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom.
Q: How many officers hold the position of Astronomer Royal?
A: There are two officers who hold the position of Astronomer Royal: the senior one dating from 22 June 1675 and the second one for Scotland dating from 1834.
Q: Who founded the Royal Observatory Greenwich and when?
A: King Charles II founded the Royal Observatory, Greenwich in 1675.
Q: What was the instruction given by King Charles II to the first Astronomer Royal?
A: King Charles II instructed the first Astronomer Royal John Flamsteed to "apply himself with the most exact care and diligence to the rectifying of the tables of the motions of the heavens, and the places of the fixed stars, so as to find out the so much desired longitude of places for the perfecting of the art of navigation".
Q: What is the stipend received by the Astronomer Royal?
A: As Astronomer Royal, he receives a stipend of £100 a year.
Q: What is the general authority of the Lord Chamberlain over the Astronomer Royal?
A: The Astronomer Royal is a member of the Royal Household, under the general authority of the Lord Chamberlain.
Q: What is the significance of the office of the Astronomer Royal?
A: The office of the Astronomer Royal is of great prestige, and he remains available to advise the Sovereign on astronomical and related scientific matters.
