Robert Jonckhèere

The son of a wealthy Belgian textile industrialist, Robert Jonckheere developed early in life an enthusiasm for astronomy.

In 1907, he found a site for a new observatory on a hill 20 meters above the surrounding land, which is now in the city of Hem near Lille.

During this period, the Royal Observatory, Greenwich allowed him to continue his study of double stars and published a catalogue presenting his results.

[4] In order to support his family, Jonckheere worked in the optical department of the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich.

It was not until 1942 that he passed the entrance examination for the CNRS, enabling him to have the title Maître de Recherche and employment as a professional astronomer at the Observatory of Marseille.