He participated in numerous physically grueling astronomical expeditions to remote parts of the world throughout the late 1940s and 1950s.
It was named by members of the 1874 French astronomical expedition to view the Transit of Venus, which set up on the island at Venus Bay.
In 1860 he accompanied the American astronomical expedition to Labrador as geologist.
"It was the weirdest astronomical expedition I've ever been on," he said.
In 1874 Balfour participated in an astronomical expedition of 1874 to Rodrigues.
"And, finding Mr. Arnesson away, you sat for a while in the library with Professor Dillard, I understand, discussing an astronomical expedition to South America."
His desire to observe the southern heavens led him to propose, in 1750, an astronomical expedition to the Cape of Good Hope.
It was named for an 1874 French astronomical expedition to view the Transit of Venus, which set up camp at the site.
In addition, Todd was the organizer and leader of a number of important astronomical expeditions:
December 9 - A transit of Venus across the Sun is observed in Muddapur, India, by an astronomical expedition led by Pietro Tacchini.