Johan Stein
Encyclopedia
Johan Willem Jakob Antoon Stein (February 27, 1871–December 27, 1951) was a Dutch astronomer and a member of the Society of Jesus
.
He was born in Grave, Netherlands and spend his youth in Maastricht
. In 1894 he finished a course of ecclesiastical philosophy, then studied astronomy at the University of Leyden. His doctoral dissertation was on the Horrebow method
for determining latitude. By the time he received his doctorate in 1901, he had begun teaching physics and math at the St. Willebrord College of Katwijk
. He was ordained to priesthood in Maastricht, 1903.
From 1906–1910 he served as an assistant at the Vatican Observatory
. Thereafter he joined St. Ignatius College in Amsterdam, where he taught math and science for the next twenty years. In 1922 he became a member of the I.A.U.
Commissions for Variable Stars. After 1924, he joined the Association of Dutch Amateur Astronomers. In 1930 he became director of the Vatican Observatory. He was responsible for the modernization of the observatory, as well as its relocation to Castel Gandolfo
in 1933.
Queen Juliana made him a knight of the Order of the Lion of the Netherlands. The crater Stein on the far side
of the Moon
is named after him.
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
.
He was born in Grave, Netherlands and spend his youth in Maastricht
Maastricht
Maastricht is situated on both sides of the Meuse river in the south-eastern part of the Netherlands, on the Belgian border and near the German border...
. In 1894 he finished a course of ecclesiastical philosophy, then studied astronomy at the University of Leyden. His doctoral dissertation was on the Horrebow method
Peder Horrebow
Peder [Nielsen] Horrebow was a Danish astronomer. Born in Løgstør, Jutland to a poor family of fishermen, Horrebow entered the University of Copenhagen in 1703. He worked his way through grammar school and university by virtue of his technical knowledge: he repaired mechanical and musical...
for determining latitude. By the time he received his doctorate in 1901, he had begun teaching physics and math at the St. Willebrord College of Katwijk
Katwijk
Katwijk is a coastal municipality and town in the province of South Holland in the western Netherlands. It has a population of 61,292.-Location:...
. He was ordained to priesthood in Maastricht, 1903.
From 1906–1910 he served as an assistant at the Vatican Observatory
Vatican Observatory
The Vatican Observatory is an astronomical research and educational institution supported by the Holy See. Originally based in Rome, it now has headquarters and laboratory at the summer residence of the Pope in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, and an observatory at the Mount Graham International...
. Thereafter he joined St. Ignatius College in Amsterdam, where he taught math and science for the next twenty years. In 1922 he became a member of the I.A.U.
International Astronomical Union
The International Astronomical Union IAU is a collection of professional astronomers, at the Ph.D. level and beyond, active in professional research and education in astronomy...
Commissions for Variable Stars. After 1924, he joined the Association of Dutch Amateur Astronomers. In 1930 he became director of the Vatican Observatory. He was responsible for the modernization of the observatory, as well as its relocation to Castel Gandolfo
Castel Gandolfo
Castel Gandolfo is a small Italian town or comune in Lazio that occupies a height overlooking Lake Albano about 15 miles south-east of Rome, on the Alban Hills. It is best known as the summer residence of the Pope. It is an Italian town with the population of 8834...
in 1933.
Queen Juliana made him a knight of the Order of the Lion of the Netherlands. The crater Stein on the far side
Far side of the Moon
The far side of the Moon is the lunar hemisphere that is permanently turned away, and is not visible from the surface of the Earth. The far hemisphere was first photographed by the Soviet Luna 3 probe in 1959, and was first directly observed by human eyes when the Apollo 8 mission orbited the Moon...
of the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
is named after him.