Godefroy Wendelin

Who was Godefroy Wendelin?

Govaert Wendelen was a Flemish astronomer who was born in Herk-de-Stad. He is also known by the Latin name Vendelinus. His name is sometimes given as Godefroy Wendelin; his first name spelt Godefroid or Gottfried.

Around 1630 he measured the distance between the Earth and the Sun using the method of Aristarchus of Samos. The value he calculated was 60% of the true value.

In 1643 he recognized that Kepler's third law applied to the satellites of Jupiter.

Wendelin corresponded with Mersenne, Gassendi and Constantijn Huygens.

The crater Vendelinus on the Moon is named after him.

Wendelin died in Ghent on 24 October 1667.