Anders Celsius
Swedish astronomer who proposed the centigrade temperature scale.
Anders Celsius was a Swedish astronomer, physicist, and mathematician, best known for proposing the centigrade temperature scale that was later renamed in his honor.
- field
- Astronomy, physics, mathematics
- nationality
- Swedish
- known_for
- Proposing the centigrade (Celsius) temperature scale
Lore & Background
He also observed that Scandinavia is slowly rising above sea level, though he wrongly attributed this to water evaporation.
Reader's Guide
His work on aurora borealis and magnetic fields was pioneering. Though his temperature scale is his most famous contribution, his broader scientific work advanced astronomy, geophysics, and measurement in Sweden.
Did You Know?
- He was the first to suggest a connection between the aurora borealis and changes in Earth's magnetic field.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Anders Celsius?
Anders Celsius was a Swedish scholar who worked across astronomy, physics, and mathematics during the early 18th century. He is perhaps best remembered for designing the temperature scale that now carries his name.
What is Anders Celsius most famous for?
He is credited with proposing the centigrade temperature scale, which divided the range between the freezing and boiling points of water into 100 equal parts. That scale was later renamed "Celsius" in his honor.
What academic positions did Anders Celsius hold?
He served as a professor of astronomy at Uppsala University in Sweden. He also established the Uppsala Astronomical Observatory, which became a key center for Swedish astronomical research.
Why is the Celsius temperature scale named after him?
Although he originally proposed the scale in reverse (with 100 degrees at freezing and 0 at boiling), his idea of a 100-degree interval between those two reference points became the foundation of the modern scale. The name "Celsius" was later adopted to credit him as its originator.
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