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Barnard. Photo by Pablo Carlos Budassi.

Top 10 Facts about Peter van de Kamp

Peter van de Kamp was a Dutch astronomer who lived most of his life in the United States of America. He was born on 26^th December 1901 in Kampen and later died in Amsterdam on 18^th May 1995 at the old age of 93 years.

He was the son of Engelina C. A van der Wal and Lubbertus van de Kamp who had an administrative job in a cigar factory. He had a younger brother named Jacob van de Kamp who had a career in the organic chemist field and spent most of his life in the United States. 

Peter van de Kamp pursued his studies at the University of Utrecht and later began his professional career at the Kapteyn Astronomical Institute. Between 1937 and 1972, Peter van de Kamp acted as the director of the college’s Sproul Observatory and the professor of astronomy at Swarthmore College.

He also proceeded with his studies where he studied the proper motion of the stars, parallax and also specialized in astronomy.

Below are the top ten facts about Peter van de Kamp

1. Peter van de Kamp was very Educated and had a Very Successful Career

Photo by NOAA on

Peter van de Kamp had a very successful career that began in his early life. His passion for the scientist is revealed in his family since his younger brother was also a very successful scientist.

He began practicing his career at the Kapteyn Astronomical Institute after he had pursued his studies at the University of Utrecht.

His passion for astronomy led him to one of the astronomical observatories at the University of Virginia named Leander McCormick Observatory. He also had the opportunity to work with Pieter Johannes who was a prominent Dutch astronomer.

2. Peter van de Kamp was a Professor of Astronomy

Peter van de Kamp extended his career experience by becoming a remarkable professor of astronomy at Swarthmore College.

During his years of practicing his profession, he majorly specialized in astronomy and studied the motion of the stars as well as the parallax. For 35 years he served as a professor and the director of the college’s Sproul Observatory.

Peter van de Kamp also incorporated his passion for composing and singing into his profession which made him very popular among the people.

3. He was One of the Most Famous Astronomers in the World

Photo by Ganapathy Kumar on

While practicing his career, Peter van de Kamp was announced as one of the most famous astronomers in the world during his era. This was a result of his great work in astronomy which was popular among the people.

The precise measurements of the different positions of the stars are what contributed to making him very prominent.

4. Peter van de Kamp was Involved in Major Projects

Peter van de Kamp has been involved in several major projects as well as some smaller personal projects. He was involved in assisting with the parallax program which kept in motion the job that both he and Alden had already begun.

Together with Alexander N. Vyssotsky, they both spent eight years measuring about 18,000 proper motions.

Some of his smaller astronomical projects included the research of the selective and general absorption of light within the Milky Way.

5. His Student Became the First NASA Chief of Astronomy

While Peter van de Kamp was a professor of astronomy at Swarthmore College, his student became the first NASA Chief of Astronomy. Nancy Grace Roman was his early student and she made a significant contribution to stellar classification and motions.

She also served as the first NASA Chief of Astronomy between 1960 and 1970. She was also responsible for the creation of ±·´¡³§´¡â€™s space astronomy program which is popularly known as the “Mother of Hubble”.

6. He made Astrometric Measurements of Barnard’s Star

Barnard. Photo by Pablo Carlos Budassi.

Peter van de Kamp made the astrometric measurements of Barnard’s star while he was still at Sproul Observatory. During the 1960s, there was some regular reporting of the ‘wobble’ in its motion which was a result of planetary companions. 

Peter van de Kamp became popular after making the headlines that there was a planet which has the same size as Jupiter that rotated around Barnard’s Star. The announcement made him one of the most famous astronomers in the world.

7. Peter van de Kamp’s Claims of the Planetary System were Refuted

Peter van de Kamp had made several announcements concerning the planetary system but all of them were refuted.

One of his successors named Wulff Heintz was among the people that refuted his findings. However, according to the various planetary discoveries, the ideas Peter van de Kamp came up with are being proven as correct.

8. He was awarded the Rittenhouse Medal

Peter van de Kamp was awarded the Rittenhouse Medal resulting from his hard work and the huge contribution he had made to science.

The Rittenhouse medal was awarded by the Rittenhouse Astronomical Society for his remarkable achievements in the field of science of Astronomy.

9. Peter van de Kamp was a Talented Musician

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Peter van de Kamp was a very talented musician who played several musical instruments including; violin, viola, and piano. He decided to forgo his musical talent while he was a youth since he saw a music career as more difficult to achieve compared to astronomy.

He also helped in the composition of the music for the orchestra and the piano. He was also involved in the playing of several films where he combined his music gift with others hobbies and movies and played silent films.

10. An Observatory College was Named After Him

Peter van de Kamp retired in 1972 from Swarthmore and then returned to the Netherlands where he became a professor at the University of Amsterdam. He later passed on in suburban, Amsterdam in 1995 at the age of 93. He was honored for his works after the observatory at Swarthmore College was named after him.

Peter van de Kamp had a very successful career and he has also contributed massively to the science field. He was also a very talented musician but left music from his youth to pursue astronomy.

Although he has many discoveries that were refuted some of them are being considered to be correct after years of research.