The Leiden Observatory (Sterrewacht Leiden) is an opticalobservatory in the city of Leiden in the Netherlands. It was established by the Leiden University in 1633, to house the quadrant of Snellius, and is the oldest operating University observatory in the world. It currently houses the Institute of Astronomy at Leiden, a prestigious research and educational institution.
A number of prominent astronomers and physicists have done work at the Leiden Observatory, including Willem de Sitter, Ejnar Hertzsprung, and Jan Oort, all of whom have served as Directors. One other employee was Jacobus Kapteyn.
External links
Leiden Observatory web site (http://www.strw.leidenuniv.nl)
Leiden's medieval name was Leithen, and it was governed until 1420 by burgraves, the representatives of the courts of Holland.
Leiden is also known as one of the places where some of the Pilgrim Fathers lived for a time in the early 17th century before their departure to the New World.
The population of Leiden which, it is estimated, reached 100,000 in 1640, had sunk to 30,000 between 1796 and 1811, and in 1904 was 56,044.
The LeidenObservatory (Sterrewacht Leiden) is an opticalobservatory in the city of Leiden in the Netherlands.
It was established by the Leiden University in 1633, to house the quadrant of Snellius, and is the oldest operating University observatory in the world.
A number of prominent astronomers and physicists have done work at the LeidenObservatory, including Willem de Sitter, Ejnar Hertzsprung, and Jan Oort, all of whom have served as Directors.
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