Jacobus Kapteyn was appointed professor of astronomy and theoretical mechanics in 1878 at a time when no astronomical tradition, let alone an observatory, existed in Groningen. Kapteyn's first "Astronomical Laboratory" was opened in 1896.
In 1878, Jacobus Kapteyn became a professor of astronomy and theoretical mechanics at a time when there was no astronomical tradition or observatory in Groningen. Kapteyn's first "Astronomical Laboratory" opened in 1896.