Jens Fredrik Schroeter
Encyclopedia
Jens Fredrik Wilhelm Schroeter (21 May 1857 – 27 April 1927) was a Norwegian astronomer.
He was born in Drammen
as a son of sea captain Fredrik Julius Bech Schroeter and his wife Julie Schroeter. His paternal family had migrated into Norway from Langeland, Denmark
in 1787. Through his sister Jenny, he was a brother-in-law of priest Jens Jonas Jansen
and an uncle of historian, genealogist and archivist Einar Jansen
. Schroeter himself did not marry.
He finished
his secondary education in 1872, and graduated with the cand.real. degree in 1882. His interest for astronomy stemmed from childhood, when his father had taught him the Zodiac
, the planets and how to use the sextant
. He worked at the observatory in Bossekop from 1882 to 1884, and as an assistant at the Norwegian Meteorological Institute
from 1884 to 1888. From 1888 to 1890 he held a fellowship and was an observator abroad, but in 1891 he returned to Norway as an observator at the University of Kristiania
in 1891. The director of the observatory since 1890 was professor Hans Geelmuyden
, and when Geelmuyden retired as a professor in 1919, he was replaced by Schroeter. Schroeter also edited the official Norwegian almanac
, succeeding Geelmuyden here as well.
He was the Norwegian editor of the journal Nordisk astronomisk Tidsskrift, and was a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
. His academic publications were mainly in the German language
. Outside of the strictly academic field, he also contributed to the encyclopedia Salomonsens Konversationsleksikon, as well as the almanac. He died in 1927 in Oslo
.
He was born in Drammen
Drammen
Drammen is a city in Buskerud County, Norway. The port and river city of Drammen is centrally located in the eastern and most populated part of Norway.-Location:...
as a son of sea captain Fredrik Julius Bech Schroeter and his wife Julie Schroeter. His paternal family had migrated into Norway from Langeland, Denmark
Langeland
Langeland is a Danish island located between the Great Belt and Bay of Kiel. The island measures 285 km² and, as of 1 January 2010, has a population of 13,277. The island produces grain and is known as a recreational area. A bridge connects it to Tåsinge via Siø - a small island with a...
in 1787. Through his sister Jenny, he was a brother-in-law of priest Jens Jonas Jansen
Jens Jonas Jansen
Jens Jonas Elstrand Jansen was a Norwegian priest.He was born in Hobøl as a son of priest David Middelthon Jansen and his wife Eleonore Cathrine Elstrand. In May 1883 he married twenty-year-old Jenny Therese Schroeter from Drammen, a sister of professor Jens Fredrik Schroeter...
and an uncle of historian, genealogist and archivist Einar Jansen
Einar Jansen
Einar Jansen was a Norwegian historian, genealogist and archivist.He was born in Røyken as the son of priest Jens Jonas Jansen and Jenny Therese Schroeter . He was a nephew of Jens Fredrik Schroeter...
. Schroeter himself did not marry.
He finished
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
his secondary education in 1872, and graduated with the cand.real. degree in 1882. His interest for astronomy stemmed from childhood, when his father had taught him the Zodiac
Zodiac
In astronomy, the zodiac is a circle of twelve 30° divisions of celestial longitude which are centred upon the ecliptic: the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year...
, the planets and how to use the sextant
Sextant
A sextant is an instrument used to measure the angle between any two visible objects. Its primary use is to determine the angle between a celestial object and the horizon which is known as the altitude. Making this measurement is known as sighting the object, shooting the object, or taking a sight...
. He worked at the observatory in Bossekop from 1882 to 1884, and as an assistant at the Norwegian Meteorological Institute
Norwegian Meteorological Institute
Norwegian Meteorological Institute is the Norwegian national institute for weather forecasts.The three main offices are located in Oslo, Bergen and Tromsø. The Institute has around 500 employees and keeps around 650 paid observers of various kinds around the country...
from 1884 to 1888. From 1888 to 1890 he held a fellowship and was an observator abroad, but in 1891 he returned to Norway as an observator at the University of Kristiania
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
in 1891. The director of the observatory since 1890 was professor Hans Geelmuyden
Hans Geelmuyden (astronomer)
Hans Geelmuyden was a Norwegian astronomer.He was born in Stavern. He was a relative of Ivar Christian Sommerschild Geelmuyden and Carl Victor Emanuel Geelmuyden, and the family had migrated from the Dutch Republic during the seventeenth century...
, and when Geelmuyden retired as a professor in 1919, he was replaced by Schroeter. Schroeter also edited the official Norwegian almanac
Almanac
An almanac is an annual publication that includes information such as weather forecasts, farmers' planting dates, and tide tables, containing tabular information in a particular field or fields often arranged according to the calendar etc...
, succeeding Geelmuyden here as well.
He was the Norwegian editor of the journal Nordisk astronomisk Tidsskrift, and was a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters
The Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters is a learned society based in Oslo, Norway.-History:The University of Oslo was established in 1811. The idea of a learned society in Christiania surfaced for the first time in 1841. The city of Throndhjem had no university, but had a learned...
. His academic publications were mainly in the German language
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
. Outside of the strictly academic field, he also contributed to the encyclopedia Salomonsens Konversationsleksikon, as well as the almanac. He died in 1927 in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
.