Master of Galactic Astronomy: A Biography of Jan Hendrik Oort

Master of Galactic Astronomy: A Biography of Jan Hendrik Oort
Author: Pieter C. van der Kruit
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 370
Release: 2020-12-28
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3030555488

This accessible and entertaining biography chronicles the life and triumphs of astronomer Jan Hendrik Oort, who helped lay the foundations of modern astronomy in the 20th century. The book puts into context some of Oort's most significant achievements, including his discovery that the Milky Way rotates, as well as his famous hypothesis that our Solar System is surrounded by a reservoir of comets — now simply known as the Oort Cloud. Written by Oort’s former student, this fascinating story also delves into Oort’s pivotal role in the foundation of major astronomical facilities, including radio telescopes in the Netherlands and the European Southern Observatory (ESO), which now operates the most successful astronomical observatories in the world. The book draws extensively on new archival research through the Oort Archives, along with personal reminiscences by Oort’s son and astronomer-grandson, to paint a more detailed picture of Oort’s life not just as an astronomer, but also as a husband, father, and citizen. The strong public interest in comets triggered by the Rosetta mission to comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko and the recently discovered interstellar comet in the Solar System make this book particularly timely.

Jan Hendrik Oort

Jan Hendrik Oort
Author: Pieter C. van der Kruit
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 743
Release: 2019-07-16
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3030178013

This book is the first thorough and overdue biography of one of the giants of science in the twentieth century, Jan Hendrik Oort. His fundamental contributions had a lasting effect on the development of our insight and a profound influence on the international organization and cooperation in his area of science and on the efforts and contribution of his native country. This book aims at describing Oort's life and works in the context of the development of his branch of science and as a tribute to a great scientist in a broader sense. The astronomer Jan Hendrik Oort from the Netherlands was founder of studies of the structure and dynamics of the Milky Way Galaxy, initiator of radioastronomy and the European Southern Observatory, and an important contributor to many areas of astronomy, from the study of comets to the universe on the largest scales.

The Letters and Papers of Jan Hendrik Oort

The Letters and Papers of Jan Hendrik Oort
Author: J.K. Katgert-Merkelijn
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 229
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9401157642

The astronomer Jan Hendrik Oort (1900-1992) left behind an extensive collection of notes and correspondence, both on his research and on matters that concerned him in a variety of official functions. Upon Oort's death, the collection was augmented by more personal papers, letters, journals, and diaries. The resulting collection forms a rich source of information on many aspects of twentieth-century astronomy, in which Oort played such an important role. The scientific and personal material covers the entire span of time from Oort's early youth until his death. To make these papers accessible to a wide circle of users, the collection has now been catalogued and described; the result is presented in this volume. A name index and a subject index have been added to facilitate access. The inventory is accompanied by a short biographical sketch, and a number of photographs, mostly relating to Oort's career as a scientist. The original papers themselves are archived in the Leiden University Library.

Diophantine Approximation and Abelian Varieties

Diophantine Approximation and Abelian Varieties
Author: Bas Edixhoven
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 136
Release: 1993
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 3540575286

The 13 chapters of this book centre around the proof of Theorem 1 of Faltings' paper "Diophantine approximation on abelian varieties", Ann. Math.133 (1991) and together give an approach to the proof that is accessible to Ph.D-level students in number theory and algebraic geometry. Each chapter is based on an instructional lecture given by its author ata special conference for graduate students, on the topic of Faltings' paper.

Multiple Light Scattering

Multiple Light Scattering
Author: H Van de Hulst
Publisher: Academic Press
Total Pages: 344
Release: 1980-07-28
Genre: Science
ISBN:

Multiple Light Scattering: Tables, Formulas, and Applications, Volume 1 serves to give concise and handy information related to multiple scattering theory in such a way that the reader would not have to rely on extensive literature on the subject. The book is divided into two parts. Part I: General Theory covers the basic concepts, terms, and notations related to multiple scattering theory; exponential integrals and related functions; reciprocity and detailed balance; different related methods; and homogenous atmospheres with arbitrary phase function and single-scattering albedo. Part II: Isotropic Scattering discusses related concepts such as solutions using the Milne operator; semi-infinite atmospheres; the H-functions; and finite slabs. The text is recommended for practitioners in optics, atmospheric physics, astronomy, and other fields that need a reference book in the subject of multiple light scattering.

In Search of Truth. Augustine, Manichaeism and Other Gnosticism

In Search of Truth. Augustine, Manichaeism and Other Gnosticism
Author: J. van (Johannes) Oort
Publisher: BRILL
Total Pages: 769
Release: 2011
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9004189971

This volume in honour of Prof. Dr. Johannes van Oort offers a rich variety of in-depth studies on Augustine, Manichaeism, and other Gnostic currents, thus reflecting the rich variety of the honorand’s research interests.

The Rise of Radio Astronomy in the Netherlands

The Rise of Radio Astronomy in the Netherlands
Author: Astrid Elbers
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 251
Release: 2016-11-23
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3319490796

Radio astronomy was born during the Second World War, but as this book explains, the history of early Dutch radio astronomy is in several respects rather anomalous in comparison to the development of radio astronomy in other countries. The author describes how these very differences led the Netherlands to become one of the world leaders in radio astronomy. Dominated by the Leiden astronomer Jan Hendrik Oort, the field embarked on an era of success, and to this day, the country still holds a leading position. To tell this story, the book focuses on three key events in the period 1940-1970, namely the construction of the radio telescopes in Kootwijk (1948), in Dwingeloo (1956), and in Westerbork (1970). These projects show that Dutch radio astronomers must not be seen as merely scientists, but also as strategic lobbyists, networkers and organizers in a specific political and economic context. It was in the process of planning, designing and constructing these instruments that the interests of the astronomers, industrial partners, politicians and lobby groups merged to create today's existing research centers for radio astronomy.

Anton Pannekoek: Ways of Viewing Science and Society

Anton Pannekoek: Ways of Viewing Science and Society
Author: Chaokang Tai
Publisher: Amsterdam University Press
Total Pages: 323
Release: 2019-09-06
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 904853500X

Anton Pannekoek (1873-1960), prominent astronomer and world-renowned socialist theorist, stood at the nexus of the revolutions in politics, science and the arts of the early twentieth century. His astronomy was uniquely visual and highly innovative, while his politics was radical. This volume collects essays on Pannekoek and his contemporaries at the crossroads of political history, the history of science and art history.

Oort and the Universe

Oort and the Universe
Author: Hugo van Woerden
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 210
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9400991134

Jan H. Dort's work Ad:r>iaan Blaauw Meritus Emeritus Harry van der Laan 21 Jan Hendrik Dort and Dutch astronomy H.G. van Bueren 31 Dort's scientific importance on a world-wide scale Bengt Stromgren 39 Gart and international co-operation in astronomy D.H. Sadler 45 Reminiscences of the early nineteen-twenties Peter Van de Kamp 51 The first five years of Jan Dort at Leiden, Bart J. Bok 1924-1929 55 Early galactic structure Per Olof Lindblad 59 Early galactic radio astronomy at Kootwijk C.A. Muller 65 W.N. Christiansen Dort and his large radiotelescope 71 Ten years of discovery with Dort's Synthesis Radio Telescope R.J. Allen and R.D. Ekers 79 Gort's work on comets Maarten Schmidt 111 The evolution of ideas on the Crab Nebula L. WoUjer 117 Gort's work reflected in current studies of galactic CO W.B. Burton 123 On high-energy astrophysics V.L. Ginzburg 129 Dort and extragalactic astronomy Margaret and Geoffrey Burbidge 141 Birthday wishes John A. and Janette Wheeler 151 The Earth and the Universe Abraham H. Oort 153 The challenge of Jan Dort J.H. Bannier 157 Jan Dort at the telescope Fjeda Walraven 161 Gart Westerhout Personal recollections 163 Style of research Henk van de Hulst 165 Manuscript Jan H.