The discovery of a long-lost portrait of 19th-century British solar astronomer Richard Carrington has shed new light on his life and work. The portrait, found by Kate Bond, an assistant archivist at the Royal Astronomical Society, is the first and perhaps only known photograph of the man for whom the Carrington Event, a major geomagnetic storm, was named. This event, which occurred on September 1, 1859, was the most intense geomagnetic storm ever recorded, causing electric shocks to telegraph operators and auroras as far south as Panama. Despite his significant contributions to solar physics, Carrington is not well-known, and researchers suspect that this may be partly due to the lack of a face associated with his name. The portrait, taken at the Maull & Polyblank studio in London, was discovered through Bond's detective work and a serendipitous search on eBay. The photo, inscribed with 'the late Carrington', was identified as belonging to Charles Vincent Walker, a friend of Carrington's who nominated him to be a Fellow of the Royal Society. This discovery has added a personal touch to Carrington's legacy, providing a visual representation of the man behind the scientific achievements. The story of the lost portrait and its rediscovery highlights the human side of scientific discovery and the importance of preserving historical artifacts.
