the relative gravity between Potsdam and Tokyo, and this was applied in many points in
Japan. In those days, since we could not use radio time signals, we had to measure the time
using a transit instrument at every point of gravity measurement. He demonstrated an
excellent ability in this work, and he established the competent for his future as an
astronomer. (Nagaoka 1939)
In 1898 Shinjo married Watanabe Waka (渡辺わか), the third daughter of
Watanabe Nozomu, the descendant of a samurai. Shinjo moved to Kyoto to serve
as an associate professor of physics at the Science College of Kyoto Imperial
University. While measurements of gravity remained a research interest, he gradually moved to the study of astronomy.
Shinjo obtained a private fellowship from Fujihara Chu’ichiro (藤原忠一郎), a
wealthy merchant in Kyoto, and traveled to Europe in January 1905. He mainly
stayed at Göttingen University for the study of physics under Woldemar Voigt
(1850–1919), who was working on crystal physics and electro-optics at the time.
In Göttingen, Shinjo also attended the lectures of Karl Schwarzschild (1873–1916)
on astrophysics. Karl was the director of the Göttingen University Observatory and
worked on the photometry and theory of solar and stellar atmospheres in this period.
Shinjo was deeply impressed by his lectures on new developments in astrophysics.
Shinjo’s eyes were opened to astrophysics. He came to believe strongly that the
future of astronomy should consist entirely of astrophysics. In his day, the study of
astrophysics had not yet been launched in Kyoto. In Europe, he spent much of his
time visiting many observatories and universities in order to widen his knowledge on
astrophysics as well as on geodesy.
Fig. 2.11 Photograph of
Shinjo Shinzo in China,
December 1932. (Shinjo
Bunko, No. 649, Kyoto
University)
2.4 Shinjo Shinzo and Astrophysics
31
Japan. In those days, since we could not use radio time signals, we had to measure the time
using a transit instrument at every point of gravity measurement. He demonstrated an
excellent ability in this work, and he established the competent for his future as an
astronomer. (Nagaoka 1939)
In 1898 Shinjo married Watanabe Waka (渡辺わか), the third daughter of
Watanabe Nozomu, the descendant of a samurai. Shinjo moved to Kyoto to serve
as an associate professor of physics at the Science College of Kyoto Imperial
University. While measurements of gravity remained a research interest, he gradually moved to the study of astronomy.
Shinjo obtained a private fellowship from Fujihara Chu’ichiro (藤原忠一郎), a
wealthy merchant in Kyoto, and traveled to Europe in January 1905. He mainly
stayed at Göttingen University for the study of physics under Woldemar Voigt
(1850–1919), who was working on crystal physics and electro-optics at the time.
In Göttingen, Shinjo also attended the lectures of Karl Schwarzschild (1873–1916)
on astrophysics. Karl was the director of the Göttingen University Observatory and
worked on the photometry and theory of solar and stellar atmospheres in this period.
Shinjo was deeply impressed by his lectures on new developments in astrophysics.
Shinjo’s eyes were opened to astrophysics. He came to believe strongly that the
future of astronomy should consist entirely of astrophysics. In his day, the study of
astrophysics had not yet been launched in Kyoto. In Europe, he spent much of his
time visiting many observatories and universities in order to widen his knowledge on
astrophysics as well as on geodesy.
Fig. 2.11 Photograph of
Shinjo Shinzo in China,
December 1932. (Shinjo
Bunko, No. 649, Kyoto
University)
2.4 Shinjo Shinzo and Astrophysics
31