Chess Player Honoured

[Paul McKeown]

Chess player, Jonathan Tennyson, receives the Royal Astronomical Society's highest honour.

[David Lettington]

Impressive. He has the middle name 'Penrose' too

The great-great grandson of Alfred, Lord Tennyson, according to Wikipedia

[Christopher Kreuzer]

That is impressive. Could we have a brief outline of his chess playing background, to give some context? There is a thread around somewhere of academics and professors who play chess. Nor sure if he is already there. Do we know if the original Tennyson played chess?

[Richard James]

That is impressive. Could we have a brief outline of his chess playing background, to give some context? There is a thread around somewhere of academics and professors who play chess. Nor sure if he is already there. Do we know if the original Tennyson played chess?

Alfred Lord Tennyson was President of the British Chess Association in 1883 but there's little evidence elsewhere that he had any other interest in the game.

Jonathan is apparently the President of Hackney Chess Club, so probably some relation to this player.

https://rating.englishchess.org.uk/v2/n ... de=122205D

I'm sure Paul will know more.

[Angus French]

Jonathan is apparently the President of Hackney Chess Club, so probably some relation to this player.

https://rating.englishchess.org.uk/v2/n ... de=122205D

I'm sure Paul will know more.

That's the chap. I've played him a few times in the London League and recognise him from his photo. He's a fellow Alekhine player!

[Matt Mackenzie]

If it is the same person, presumably the ECF site is incorrect in having his name as "John"?

[MJMcCready]

Impressive. He has the middle name 'Penrose' too

The great-great grandson of Alfred, Lord Tennyson, according to Wikipedia

In addition, we can say with much certainty that Tennyson will always continue to attract admirers generation after generation, and probably conclude this is somewhat unsurprising and hardly ever going to qualify as breaking news.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

"So why did you say it then?", says the falling tree in the forest to no-one in particular?

EDIT: We should at least be discussing the astrophysics!

Professor Tennyson was honoured for a lifetime of ground-breaking research in molecular physics, as well as for his pioneering leadership of the ExoMol project, which aims to provide molecular line lists for exoplanets and other worlds with hot atmospheres.

These line lists are essential in the measurements and interpretations of measured spectra, and as a result, the ExoMol project is widely considered a standard method across the community. It has been fundamental to our understanding of the chemistry and dynamics of exoplanetary and solar system atmospheres.

Professor Tennyson's theoretical work on water molecules also led to the first detection of water in sunspots and proved that water could survive in stars as hot as our Sun.

Discuss!

[Angus French]

Professor Tennyson's theoretical work on water molecules also led to the first detection of water in sunspots and proved that water could survive in stars as hot as our Sun.

Discuss!

How can this be possible? All I can think is that I'd like Musk and his billionaire pals to shoot off in a Spacex rocket to conduct on-the-ground investigations.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

I don't know (ask Professor Tennyson next time you see him!), but it may be that they mean the water molecule doesn't break up (ionise or decompose into its constituent atoms) and can survive in a form that is still H2O and can thus be detected in the spectral signal from the star you would expect with the presence of water. Pretty amazing.