Ole Rømer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ole Rømer
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Ole Rømer, portrait by Jacob Coning from c. 1700
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| Born |
Ole Christensen Rømer
25 September 1644 Århus, Denmark–Norway
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| Died | 19 September 1710 (aged 65) Copenhagen, Denmark–Norway
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| Nationality | Danish |
| Alma mater | University of Copenhagen |
| Known for | Measuring the speed of light |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astronomy |
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Ole Christensen Rømer ( 25 September 1644 – 19 September 1710) was a Danish astronomer who, in 1676, made the first quantitative measurements of the speed of light.
Rømer also invented the modern thermometer showing the temperature between two fixed points, namely the points at which water respectively boils and freezes.
In scientific literature, alternative spellings such as "Roemer", "Römer", or "Romer" are common.
Images for kids
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Rundetårn ("round tower") in Copenhagen, on top of which the university had its observatory from the mid 17th century until the mid 19th century when it was moved to new premises. The current observatory there was built in the 20th century to serve amateurs.
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Ole Rømer at work
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Illustration from the 1676 article on Rømer's measurement of the speed of light. Rømer compared the duration of Io's orbits as Earth moved towards Jupiter (F to G) and as Earth moved away from Jupiter (L to K).
