Jacques Cassini (Cassini II, February 18, 1677 - April 16, 1756)
Jacques Cassini (Cassini II) was born on February 18, 1677 in Paris as the
son of G.D. Cassini (Cassini I). Together with
his father, he was involved in the great degree measurement to improve the
geographic knowledge of France. After the death of his father in 1712, he
succeeded him as the director of the Paris Observatory. His astronomical
activities include observations of Saturn and studies of the proper motion
of stars, detecting that Arcturus (Alpha Bootis) had changed its latitude by
5' in 159 years, while neighboring Eta Bootis remained unchanged. In 1740,
he published Elements of Astronomy.
He is father of César François Cassini
(Cassini III).
One of his assistants was Le Gentil.
Jacques Cassini died on April 16, 1756 in Thury-sous-Clermont near Beauvais,
aged 79, in a carriage accident.
Jacques Cassini was honored by naming asteroid (24102) Jacquescassini, which
had been discovered by C.W. Juels at Fountain Hills observatory on November
9, 1999, and provisionally designated 1999 VD9.
Links
References
- Jean Baptiste Joseph Delambre, 1827.
Histoire de l'Astronomie au dix-huitièmme siècle
[History of Astronomy in the Eighteenth Century].
Bachelier (Successor of Mme. Ve. Courcier), Paris.
P. xviij, 250-274.
- Kenneth Glyn Jones, 1968.
The Search for the Nebulae -- IV.
Journal of the British Astronomical Association, Vol. 79, No. 1 (1968),
p. 19-25. Section on Cassini II: p. 23-24.
Reprinted in: The Search for the Nebulae. Chalfont St. Giles, 1975.
- Kenneth Glyn Jones, 1991.
Messier's Nebulae and Star Clusters. 2nd ed, Cambridge University Press,
p. 316.
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