The Reverend Thomas Henry Espinell Compton Espin or T. H. E. C. Espin (May 28 1858 – December 2 1934) was a British astronomer. His father Thomas Espin was Chancellor of the Diocese of Chester.

He became interested in astronomy by the appearance of "Coggia's Comet" (C/1874 H1 ).

He was an avid amateur astronomer and skilled observer. In 1876 he made the acquaintance of Rev. Thomas William Webb and assisted with the compilation of the famous book Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes ; after Webb's death he published expanded 5th and 6th editions of it. He discovered many nebulas, variable stars, and more than 2500 double stars. He made many observations of the spectra of stars, and in particular he also did extensive searches for red stars (especially in his early career) and published a catalogue of them.

He became a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society on January 11 1878. He was awarded the Jackson-Gwilt Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1913.

He discovered Nova Lacertae 1910 .

His other amateur scientific interests included botany, geology and the study of X rays; his study of fossils caused him to disbelieve Darwin's theory of evolution.

In 1888 he became Vicar of Tow Law and held this post until his death. He also served as a county magistrate for 35 years beginning in 1891 and was Chairman of Stanhope and Wolsingham Sessions. He never married.

Espin crater on the Moon is named after him.

External links

Obituaries

• MNRAS 95 (1935) 319–322
• Obs 58 (1935) 27–29