Airy did, however, make many major contributions to mathematics and astronomy. He improved the orbital theory of Venus and the Moon, studied interference fringes in optics, made a mathematical study of the rainbow and computed the density of the Earth by swinging a pendulum at the top and bottom of a deep mine.
Siya ang pinabuting orbital theory ng Venus at ang Buwan, aral ng pagkagambala fringes sa optika, na ginawa ng isang matematikal na pag-aaral ng bahaghari at computed ang kakapalan ng Earth sa pamamagitan ng sumasapik ng isang palawit sa tuktok at ibaba ng isang malalim mina.