Hendrik van Gent (1900 – March 29, 1947, Amsterdam) was a Dutch astronomer.
He moved to South Africa in 1928 in order to observe the southern sky at the Leiden Southern Station and the Union Observatory in Johannesburg. He obtained his PhD from Leiden University in 1931. He studied variable stars, and also discovered a number of asteroids and comets. The crater Van Gent on the far side of the Moon, and the asteroid 1666 van Gent are named after him.
He died of a heart attack while on leave in the Netherlands.
Famous quotes containing the word van:
“Narcotics have been systematically scapegoated and demonized. The idea that anyone can use drugs and escape a horrible fate is an anathema to these idiots. I predict that in the near future, right wingers will use drug hysteria as a pretext to set up an international police apparatus.”
—Gus Van Sant, U.S. screenwriter and director, and Dan Yost. Father Tom Murphy (William S. Burroughs)