96
6 Laboratory and Statistical Astronomy
Fig. 6.3 Two rooms with Kapteyn’s measuring instruments in the Physiological Laboratory. The rear one was used for the CPD. University of Groningen
Kapteyn may have had his own laboratory, but this was not the end of his
troubles. In 1907 the Astronomical Laboratory was threatened with closure.
He had applied for money for equipment and the parliament in Den Haag saw
this as an opportunity to raise the question of the raison d’être of the laboratory.
This despite the great fame that Kapteyn now had internationally. It is true that
this danger was averted—albeit with difficulty; Kapteyn had already mobilized
David Gill to submit a flaming protest—but the fact remains that neither his
university nor the government have treated Kapteyn very generously. Kapteyn’s
loyalty to Groningen is remarkable. Many would have sought or accepted a
position elsewhere. Kapteyn never did such a thing. For example, when he was
offered the directorship of the Utrecht Observatory at the retirement of Jean
Oudemans in 1897, he declined this offer.
6.2 Stars and Galaxies
In Chap. 3 I have summarized the state of astronomy around 1875. For a good
understanding of Kapteyn’s further work, it is also necessary to place this in the
context of what we now know about the Universe outside our Solar System.
6 Laboratory and Statistical Astronomy
Fig. 6.3 Two rooms with Kapteyn’s measuring instruments in the Physiological Laboratory. The rear one was used for the CPD. University of Groningen
Kapteyn may have had his own laboratory, but this was not the end of his
troubles. In 1907 the Astronomical Laboratory was threatened with closure.
He had applied for money for equipment and the parliament in Den Haag saw
this as an opportunity to raise the question of the raison d’être of the laboratory.
This despite the great fame that Kapteyn now had internationally. It is true that
this danger was averted—albeit with difficulty; Kapteyn had already mobilized
David Gill to submit a flaming protest—but the fact remains that neither his
university nor the government have treated Kapteyn very generously. Kapteyn’s
loyalty to Groningen is remarkable. Many would have sought or accepted a
position elsewhere. Kapteyn never did such a thing. For example, when he was
offered the directorship of the Utrecht Observatory at the retirement of Jean
Oudemans in 1897, he declined this offer.
6.2 Stars and Galaxies
In Chap. 3 I have summarized the state of astronomy around 1875. For a good
understanding of Kapteyn’s further work, it is also necessary to place this in the
context of what we now know about the Universe outside our Solar System.