Abstract
After his studies in Utrecht, Kapteyn was offered a position as ‘observator’ at Leiden Observatory. While there, he was heavily involved in the program of accurate measurements of star positions, under the supervision of H.G. van de Sande Bakhuyzen. Leiden Observatory was world famous in this field for its accuracy of measurements. Correspondence about his appointment shows that Kapteyn had done extensive astronomical work in Utrecht, and had tried to move to Leiden to perform his doctoral research there. This attempt was unsuccessful, but was nevertheless conducive to his securing this appointment. His becoming an astronomer was not purely accidental, as is commonly assumed, but the fulfillment of a long-held, strong desire on his part.
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Notes
- 1.
MÃcháel Ó Muircheartaigh, Irish sports commentator, particularly of Gaelic games.
- 2.
Simon Newcomb , American astronomer and contemporary of Kapteyn. Contrast this with the statement: Sunday Nov. 9, 1828. A most beautiful day and splendid evening. I had intended to observe a number of small stars, but on walking home after dining in Hall I found myself totally unable to observe, and did nothing. Discovered in Astronomer Royal Airy’s manuscript journal in Cambridge, according to the department ‘Here & There’ in ‘The Observatory’ [1].
Chapter 3. Astronomer in Leiden
Observatory,, 71, 128 (1951). [1951Obs....71.128]
From FamilySearch, www.genver.nl., Utrecht, Utrecht, File (6580428 Huw.-bijlagen 1879–1880 v/a mei t/m apr), Images 247–253/2518.
De lotingsinstrumenten voor de Nederlandse dienstplicht by F.Staarman and De dienstplicht op de markt gebracht; het fenomeen dienstvervanging in de negentiende eeuw by by E.W.R. van Roon. See alfredstaarman.nl/wp-content/uploads/Alfred-Staarman-De-lotingsinstrumenten-voor-de-dienstplicht-in-de-collectie-van-het-Legermuseum-in-jaarboek-Legermuseum-Armamentaria-nr.-31-1996-41-47.pdf and www.knhg.nl/bmgn2/R/Roon__E._W._R._van_-_De_dienstplicht_op_de_markt_gebracht._H.pdf
See also www.regionaalarchiefzutphen.nl/informatiebladen/47-militieregisters.
Gemeentearchief Barneveld.
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Wetenschappelijke Bladen I., 257–295 (1923), see also J.C. Kapteyn und sein astronomisches Werk in Die Naturwissenschaften, Heft 45, 1–14 (1922).
Published by Leiden Observatory (1965), Waanders/De Kler, Zwolle (1983) and Leiden University (2011).
Studium, 4, 195–126 (2011); www.gewina-studium.nl/index.php/studium/article/view/1545/7241.
Respectively www.dbnl.org/tekst/will078twee01_01/andsss.sagepub.com/content/21/3/503.abstract.
Astronomische Nachrichten 60, 273–286 (1863). [1863AN.....60.273K]
Respectively pages i-xlii [1868AnLei...1D...1.], xliii-lii [1868An Lei...1D..43.], liii-lxv, [1868AnLei...1D..53.] and lxvi-lxxxvi.[1868An Lei...1D..66.]
nl.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bestand:Prof._H.G._van_de_Sande_Bakhuyzen.jpg.
Verslag van de Staat der Sterrenwacht te Leiden en de aldaar volbrachte werkzaamheden, 1875–1876. [1876VeLdn..12.1V]
www.strw.leidenuniv.nl/outreach/strwarchief/observatoryarchives.php.
Verslag van den Staat der Sterrewacht te Leiden en van de aldaar volbrachte werkzaamheden (1875–1876). [1876VeLdn..12.1V]
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See www3.uni-bonn.de/.
Celestial Mechanics 36, 207–239 (1985). [1985CeMec..36.207F]
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Published in two installments in Astronomische Nachrichten, 107, 49–60 and 97–112 (1883). [1883AN....107.49V] and [1883AN....107.97V]
From The Dutch Transit of Venus Expeditions of 1874 and 1882 by Robert van Gent, Anne Zandstra, Hans Hooijmaijers & Klaus Staubermann. [www.phys.uu.nl/~vgent/venus/cmm/dutch_expeditions] Collectie Universiteitsmuseum Utrecht, inv.nr. 0285–3994.
Astronomische Nachrichten, 95, 81–96 (1879). [1879AN.....95.81V]
Published by the U.S. Naval Observatory (1881). [1881USNOM..17C...1.]
Astronomische Nachrichten, 96, 119–128 (1879). [1879AN.....96.119D]
Summarized in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 41, 317–324 (1881). [1881MNRAS..41.317G]
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van der Kruit, P.C. (2015). Astronomer in Leiden. In: Jacobus Cornelius Kapteyn. Astrophysics and Space Science Library, vol 416. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-10876-6_3
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