Joseph-Nicolas Delisle

Biography

He is one of 11 wire of Claude Delisle (1644-1720). As much of his brothers, and in particular Guillaume Delisle (1675-1726), he undertakes traditional studies, but he directs himself quickly towards the Astronomie under the direction of Jacques Cassini (1677-1756). In 1714, it enters to the Academy of Science as raises Giovanni Domenico Maraldi (1709-1788). Become assistant, then associated astronomer with the Academy in 1716 and 1719, professor with the Collège de France in 1718 and member of the Academy of Rouen, it has as pupils Joseph Jerome Lefrançois de Lalande and Charles Messier.

Although good scientist and member of an easy family, it does not have great ways. Its life changes radically when it is called by the Tsar of Russia Pierre Large the with Saint Petersbourg in 1725 to create and direct a school of astronomy to the Academy of Science of Russia. It becomes relatively rich there and famous, so much so that when it returns to Paris in 1747, it receives the title of astronomer and can create his clean observatory with the Hôtel of Cluny, made famous for Charles Messier later.

Delisle showed in particular that the rainbows are caused by the separation of the light of the Sun by the water drops. He also worked on the calculation of the distance from the Ground to the Sun and observed the Transit of Mercury and the Transit of Venus. He is known especially for a scale of temperature invented in 1732, the scale Delisle.

The Delisle crater on the the Moon was baptized in its honor.

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