Astronomer Royal

American  

noun

1. the chief astronomer of England, appointed by the British Crown.

2. the chief astronomer of Scotland, director of the Royal Edinburgh Observatory.

---

Astronomer Royal British  

noun

1. an honorary title awarded to an eminent British astronomer: until 1972, the Astronomer Royal was also director of the Royal Greenwich Observatory

---

Etymology

Origin of Astronomer Royal

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

This week saw US President Donald Trump visit Scotland, the Lionesses play against Spain in the Euro 2025 final, and the UK get its first female Astronomer Royal.

From BBC • Jul. 31, 2025

"I'm having to pinch myself at the thought of it and I'm having to pinch myself at the fact that I'm now Astronomer Royal!"

From BBC • Jul. 29, 2025

The role of Astronomer Royal dates back to the creation of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich in 1675.

From BBC • Jul. 29, 2025

“I just love the sparkle galaxy with its Christmas lights shining as it was when the Universe was just 600 million years old,” Prof Catherine Heymans, Scotland’s Astronomer Royal, told BBC News.

From BBC • Dec. 11, 2024

He returned to Denmark in 1681, becoming Astronomer Royal and Director of the Royal Observatory in Copenhagen, where he died on 23 September 1710.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin