Henri-Alexandre Deslandres

Rising to the rank of captain in the engineers, he became increasingly interested in physics and, in 1881, resigned his commission to join Alfred Cornu's laboratory at the École Polytechnique, working on spectroscopy.In 1868, Pierre Janssen's solar observations had led him to report to the Académie des Sciences that It is no longer geometry and mechanics which dominate [in astronomy] but physics and chemistry.In 1889, Le Verrier was succeeded by Amédée Mouchez who set to work to bring astrophysics into the mainstream by hiring Deslandres.In 1918, following the armistice, he resumed his office at Meudon until 1926 when its administration merged with that of the Paris Observatory, Mouchez assuming the role of director of both institutions until his retirement in 1929.Fellow astronomer Raymond Michard observed that In his bearing, his character and his style of life Deslandres always remained more akin to the soldier (and the officer) than to the scholar.
Deslandres at the Fourth Conference International Union for Cooperation in Solar Research at Mount Wilson Observatory , 1910
FrenchÉcole PolytechniquespectroheliographJanssen MedalGold Medal of the Royal Astronomical SocietyHenry Draper MedalFellow of the Royal SocietyastronomyMeudonParis ObservatoriesastronomerFranco-Prussian WarParis CommuneGermanycaptainphysicsAlfred CornuspectroscopySorbonnedeslandres tablespectral linesJohann Balmerquantum mechanicsPierre JanssenAcadémie des SciencesParis ObservatoryUrbain Le VerrierAmédée MouchezGeorge HaleSociété Astronomique de France (SAF)World War Ilieutenant colonelarmisticeMount Wilson ObservatoryNational Academy of SciencesPrix Jules JanssenSociété astronomique de FranceBruce MedalAstronomical Society of the PacificDeslandresFrench Academy of SciencesAsteroid11763 DeslandresStratton, F. J. M.Obituary Notices of Fellows of the Royal SocietyWayback MachineFellowsRoyal Societyin 1921Wilfred Eade AgarFrancis William AstonLawrence BraggWilliam Thomas CalmanArthur Harry ChurchGeorges DreyerWilliam EcclesJohn Charles Grant LedinghamKennedy Joseph Previte OrtonJohn Herbert ParsonsAlfred RobbEustace Tennyson d'EyncourtUdny YuleAlbert CalmetteAlbert EinsteinAlbin HallerEdmund Beecher WilsonPieter Zeeman