Gerrit Pels (1893–1966) was a Dutchastronomer, a lifelong member of the scientific staff of theLeiden Observatory.[1]
He was born inWoerden. After following secondary school inUtrecht, he was appointed "computer" at the Leiden observatory in 1919.[2] Starting circa 1924, he studiedJupiter'sGalilean satellites,minor planets,comets, and theproper motions of faintstars, in particular members of theHyades cluster. He computed orbital characteristics for many of the minor planets discovered byHendrik van Gent.[1] Much of his work he did in collaboration with his wife,Helena Kluyver (1909–2001).[3] She, together withJan Oort, published their work on the Hyades cluster in 1975, 9 years after his death, in the journalAstronomy and Astrophysics[1].
Themain-belt asteroid1667 Pels was named in his honour by discoverer and colleagueHendrik van Gent (M.P.C. 2740).[1]
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