John Fillmore Hayford (May 19, 1868 – March 10, 1925) was an eminent United States
geodesist. His work involved the study of
isostasy
Isostasy (Greek wikt:ἴσος, ''ísos'' 'equal', wikt:στάσις, ''stásis'' 'standstill') or isostatic equilibrium is the state of gravity, gravitational mechanical equilibrium, equilibrium between Earth's crust (geology), crust (or lithosph ...
and the construction of a
reference ellipsoid for approximating the
figure of the Earth
In geodesy, the figure of the Earth is the size and shape used to model planet Earth. The kind of figure depends on application, including the precision needed for the model. A spherical Earth is a well-known historical approximation that is ...
. Hayford was elected to the United States
National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is a United States nonprofit, NGO, non-governmental organization. NAS is part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, along with the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) and the ...
in 1911 and the
American Philosophical Society
The American Philosophical Society (APS) is an American scholarly organization and learned society founded in 1743 in Philadelphia that promotes knowledge in the humanities and natural sciences through research, professional meetings, publicat ...
in 1915. The crater
Hayford on the far side of the
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. It Orbit of the Moon, orbits around Earth at Lunar distance, an average distance of (; about 30 times Earth diameter, Earth's diameter). The Moon rotation, rotates, with a rotation period (lunar ...
is named after him. Mount Hayford, a 1,871 m mountain peak near Metlakatla, Alaska, United States, is named after him.
Mountains Mounts
A biography of Hayford may be found in the Biographical Memoirs of the National Academy of Sciences, 16 (5), 1935.
See also
* Hayford ellipsoid
Bibliography
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References
External links
National Academy of Sciences Biographical Memoir
1868 births
1925 deaths
American geodesists
People from Rouses Point, New York
Cornell University College of Engineering alumni
Mathematicians from New York (state)
Victoria Medal recipients
Members of the American Philosophical Society
{{US-geologist-stub