50
4 Observator and Professor
in astronomy. The calculations he had done at the Sterrewacht did not require
any real knowledge of astronomy. He was in Leiden to do research in the field
of the history of mathematics and in that context he also did some historical
studies in astronomy, in which the library of the Sterrewacht came in handy.
Van de Sande Bakhuyzen considered him to be very suitable for education, but
absolutely not as observator. Of the four pages of the letter, two and a half are
devoted to Gleuns. That part ends with: ‘As an observer, however, I would not
be able to work with him’. About Kapteyn Hendricus van de Sande Bakhuyzen
wrote:
Opposite to D r Gleuns we have D r Kapteyn. During his studies in Utrecht,
he spent as much time as possible at astronomy and actually observed at the
Sterrewacht there with its instruments, so that he was well trained in the use
of small astronomical tools. Last year he planned to continue his studies at the
Sterrewacht Leiden, but financial objections prevented him from doing so. Mr.
Kapteyn remained in Utrecht therefore and defended his dissertation there in
June of this year on a very good PhD thesis. When D r Valentiner’s departure
created a vacancy I immediately thought of Mr Kapteyn as one of the candidates
for the position of observator, and the very favorable recommendations, which I
received about him from his professors Buys Ballot and Grinwis led me to invite
Mr Kapteyn to come and work at my Sterrewacht for a while, in order to be
able to decide if he were suitable for the position of observator. Mr. Kapteyn
accepted this offer and has now worked here for three months, during which
time he has very well lived up to the expectations that I initially held concerning
him. Although he is, of course, not yet fully experienced in of all the observations
that he will have to make here, he has nevertheless shown himself to be a very
good observer; even these days he showed me an extensive series of observations,
which was in no way inferior to those of many more experienced astronomers.
D r Kapteyn has already worked on several aspects of theoretical astronomy, while
his considerable mathematical knowledge and skill will certainly enable him to
make up for what he lacks in that respect soon.
On this basis he concluded that he could confidently recommend Kapteyn.
After having received this letter, the official who dealt with the case at the
Ministry wrote on it in pencil: ‘For the Minister: So it will have to be J.C.
Kapteyn.’ From all of this becomes clear that Kapteyn did not end up an
astronomer by chance, as has sometimes been stated in obituaries about him,
but always had wanted to become an astronomer.
When Kapteyn came to Leiden a major maintenance of the instruments and
buildings was on the way; in 1875 it was the meridian circle’s turn. Kapteyn
was to contribute to and help with this. Measuring positions of stars in the sky
required extreme care to achieve the desired accuracy. To prevent distortion
4 Observator and Professor
in astronomy. The calculations he had done at the Sterrewacht did not require
any real knowledge of astronomy. He was in Leiden to do research in the field
of the history of mathematics and in that context he also did some historical
studies in astronomy, in which the library of the Sterrewacht came in handy.
Van de Sande Bakhuyzen considered him to be very suitable for education, but
absolutely not as observator. Of the four pages of the letter, two and a half are
devoted to Gleuns. That part ends with: ‘As an observer, however, I would not
be able to work with him’. About Kapteyn Hendricus van de Sande Bakhuyzen
wrote:
Opposite to D r Gleuns we have D r Kapteyn. During his studies in Utrecht,
he spent as much time as possible at astronomy and actually observed at the
Sterrewacht there with its instruments, so that he was well trained in the use
of small astronomical tools. Last year he planned to continue his studies at the
Sterrewacht Leiden, but financial objections prevented him from doing so. Mr.
Kapteyn remained in Utrecht therefore and defended his dissertation there in
June of this year on a very good PhD thesis. When D r Valentiner’s departure
created a vacancy I immediately thought of Mr Kapteyn as one of the candidates
for the position of observator, and the very favorable recommendations, which I
received about him from his professors Buys Ballot and Grinwis led me to invite
Mr Kapteyn to come and work at my Sterrewacht for a while, in order to be
able to decide if he were suitable for the position of observator. Mr. Kapteyn
accepted this offer and has now worked here for three months, during which
time he has very well lived up to the expectations that I initially held concerning
him. Although he is, of course, not yet fully experienced in of all the observations
that he will have to make here, he has nevertheless shown himself to be a very
good observer; even these days he showed me an extensive series of observations,
which was in no way inferior to those of many more experienced astronomers.
D r Kapteyn has already worked on several aspects of theoretical astronomy, while
his considerable mathematical knowledge and skill will certainly enable him to
make up for what he lacks in that respect soon.
On this basis he concluded that he could confidently recommend Kapteyn.
After having received this letter, the official who dealt with the case at the
Ministry wrote on it in pencil: ‘For the Minister: So it will have to be J.C.
Kapteyn.’ From all of this becomes clear that Kapteyn did not end up an
astronomer by chance, as has sometimes been stated in obituaries about him,
but always had wanted to become an astronomer.
When Kapteyn came to Leiden a major maintenance of the instruments and
buildings was on the way; in 1875 it was the meridian circle’s turn. Kapteyn
was to contribute to and help with this. Measuring positions of stars in the sky
required extreme care to achieve the desired accuracy. To prevent distortion