Contents
Willem de Sitter
Developing relativistic models of the universe.
De Sitter universe · Einstein–de Sitter model
- Born
- 6 May 1872
- Birthplace
- Sneek
- Died
- 20 November 1934
More people
Willem de Sitter
Willem de Sitter was a Dutch astronomer and physicist whose work helped establish modern cosmology.
Early life
Education
Born in Sneek, he studied mathematics at Groningen before working in astronomy.
Career
- 1897–1899
Cape Observatory
Worked in South Africa.
- 1908
Leiden
Became professor of astronomy.
- 1917
Cosmological model
Developed a solution of Einstein’s equations without matter.
- 1919
Observatory director
Became director of Leiden Observatory.
- 1932
Einstein collaboration
Published a joint cosmological paper.
Contributions
De Sitter universe
An expanding model with no matter and a positive cosmological constant.
Einstein–de Sitter model
A joint model relating cosmic expansion to matter.
Beyond research
Family
His sons Ulbo and Aernout became a geologist and astronomer respectively.
Sources & photo credit
Biography and career ↗Biographical references ↗Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
Photo: Unknown photographer Wide World Photos. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.