Anders Donner (November 5, 1854 – April 15, 1938) was a

professor Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an Academy, academic rank at university, universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a "person who pr ...

astronomy Astronomy () is a natural science that studies astronomical object, celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and chronology of the Universe, evolution. Objects of interest ...

at the

University of Helsinki The University of Helsinki ( fi, Helsingin yliopisto, sv, Helsingfors universitet, abbreviated UH) is a public research university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but founded in the city of Turku (in Swedish ''Åbo'') in 1640 as the ...

observatory An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial, marine, or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geophysical, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed. His ...

between 1883 and 1915. Before that, he served as a docent of astronomy between 1881–83. He was the rector of the university between 1911 and 1915 and acting chancellor 1917–1919 and 1921–1926. Under the leadership of Donner, the observatory participated in the international star directory and star map project "

Carte du Ciel The Carte du Ciel (literally, 'Map of the Sky') and the Astrographic Catalogue (or Astrographic Chart) were two distinct but connected components of a massive international astronomical project, initiated in the late 19th century, to catalogue an ...

". The star directory photograph work began in 1890 in Helsinki and it was ready in 1937. The Helsinki directory contains about 285,000 stars, their luminance and precise positions. Donner donated most of the work to the university. The crater Donner on the

far side of the Moon The far side of the Moon is the lunar hemisphere that always faces away from Earth, opposite to the Near side of the Moon, near side, because of synchronous rotation in the Moon's orbit. Compared to the near side, the far side's terrain is ru ...

and the asteroid 1398 Donnera are named after him.

References

Finnish astronomers Astronomers from the Russian Empire Scientists from the Grand Duchy of Finland 1854 births 1938 deaths Scientists from Helsinki 19th-century astronomers Academic staff of the University of Helsinki Corresponding members of the Saint Petersburg Academy of Sciences Donner family Rectors of the University of Helsinki Chancellors of the University of Helsinki {{Europe-astronomer-stub

See also

References