Godefroy Wendelin
Godefroy Wendelin (June 6 1580 – 1667) or Vendelin was a Belgian astronomer. He is also known by the latin name Vendelinus. His first name is sometimes given as Godefroid or Gottfried. Sometimes his name is given as Govaart Wendelen.
Around 1630 he measured the distance between the Earth and the Sun using the method of Aristarchus. The value he calculated was 60% of the true value (243 times the distance to the Moon; the true value is about 384 times; Aristarchus calculated about 20 times).
In 1643 he recognized that Kepler's third law applied to the satellites of Jupiter.
Wendelin corresponded with Mersenne, Gassendi and Constantijn Huygens.
Vendelinus crater on the Moon is named after him.
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Categories: 1580 births | 1667 deaths | Belgian astronomers | Astronomer stubs