Johann von Lamont

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Science & Tech

Johann von Lamont

German astronomer

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Mar 20, 2024 • Article History

Category: Science & Tech

Born:: Dec. 13, 1805, Braemar, Aberdeenshire, Scot.

Died:: Aug. 6, 1879, Munich, Ger. (aged 73)

Subjects Of Study:: geomagnetic field

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Johann von Lamont (born Dec. 13, 1805, Braemar, Aberdeenshire, Scot.—died Aug. 6, 1879, Munich, Ger.) was a Scottish-born German astronomer noted for discovering that the magnetic field of the Earth fluctuates with a period somewhat in excess of 10 years. In 1827 Lamont began working at the Royal Observatory, Bogenhausen, near Munich. He adopted German nationality and worked at Bogenhausen for the rest of his life, as director of the observatory from 1835 and also as professor of astronomy at the University of Munich from 1852. In addition to his other work, he determined the orbits of Saturn’s satellites Enceladus ...(100 of 180 words)

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