Daily Image
23-04-2007
Stichting Radiostraling Zon en Melkweg (SRZM) founded 23 April 1949
| Submitter: | Richard Strom |
| Description: | 58 years ago today, SRZM (the Foundation (Stichting) for the study of Radio radiation from Sun and Milky way) was formally founded when the chairman Jan Oort, vice chairman Marcel Minnaert, and secretary Jaap Houtgast registered the organization with a notary public. One story has it that the notary asked for 10 guilders, the registration fee. Oort said he had not taken his wallet with and turned to Minnaert, who also had no cash. So it was left to the secretary Houtgast to put up the money; what would have happened if he had also been penniless that day? The photograph shows a visit by members of SRZM to Kootwijk (where the first Dutch HI line observations were made) in 1949. The people cannot be identified, although the shorter of the two figures on the right could be Jan Oort. (From Houtgast in Hemel en Dampkring, 47, 181, 1949.) SRZM became Stichting ASTRON (Astronomisch Onderzoek Nederland) some years ago. For more information, see "Radio astronomy in Holland before 1960: just a bit more than HI" by R.G. Strom, in "The New Astronomy..." (W. Orchiston, ed.), Springer, p. 93 (2005). |
| Copyright: | public domain |
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