Lodewijk Woltjer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lodewijk Woltjer
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Woltjer at the European Southern Observatory 50th anniversary gala, Residenz, Munich, 11 October 2012.
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| 1st President of the European Astronomical Society | |
| In office 1990 – 21 August 1993 |
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| Succeeded by | Paul Murdin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 April 1930 Noordwijk, Netherlands |
| Died | 25 August 2019 (aged 89) Geneva |
| Alma mater | University of Leiden |
| Known for | Woltjer's theorem |
| Awards | Karl Schwarzschild Medal (1987) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astronomy |
| Doctoral advisor | Jan Oort |
Lodewijk Woltjer (born April 26, 1930 – died August 25, 2019) was a famous Dutch astronomer. He spent his life studying the universe and helped build some of the world's most powerful telescopes. He was known for leading important astronomy organizations and helping scientists from different countries work together to explore space.
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Early Life and Studies
Lodewijk Woltjer was born in Noordwijk, Netherlands. His father, Jan Woltjer, was also an astronomer. This likely sparked Lodewijk's interest in the stars and planets from a young age.
He went to the University of Leiden to study astronomy. There, he learned from a very famous astronomer named Jan Oort. In 1957, Lodewijk earned his PhD degree. His special research was about the Crab Nebula, which is a cloud of gas and dust left over from a star explosion.
After finishing his studies, Lodewijk worked at different universities in America. He then became a professor back at the University of Leiden. He taught about advanced topics in space science.
Leading Astronomy Organizations
Lodewijk Woltjer held many important positions in the world of astronomy. From 1964 to 1974, he was a professor at Columbia University in New York. He was also in charge of the astronomy department there.
European Southern Observatory (ESO)
One of his most important roles was being the Director General of the European Southern Observatory (ESO). He held this position from 1975 to 1987. ESO is an organization that builds and operates powerful telescopes in Chile. These telescopes help scientists study the southern sky.
While at ESO, Lodewijk Woltjer started the project to build the Very Large Telescope. This telescope is actually a group of four very large telescopes that can work together. It is one of the most advanced optical telescopes in the world.
International Astronomical Union (IAU)
From 1994 to 1997, Lodewijk Woltjer was the President of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). The IAU is a global organization that brings together astronomers from all over the world. They work on naming planets, stars, and other objects in space. They also help organize international astronomy projects.
Editor of Astronomy Journals
Besides his research and leadership roles, Lodewijk Woltjer also helped share new discoveries. He was the first Editor-in-Chief of a science magazine called The Astronomy and Astrophysics Review. This magazine started in 1989. He also worked as an editor for the Astronomical Journal from 1967 to 1974. These journals publish new research papers by astronomers.
Honors and Recognition
Lodewijk Woltjer received many awards and honors for his work. In 1987, he was given the Karl Schwarzschild Medal. This is a very respected award for astronomers.
He was also invited to be a member of many important science groups. These included the science academies in Belgium, Britain, the Netherlands, France, and Sweden. Being a member of these academies means his work was highly valued by other scientists.
