Why name a street Allée Joseph Lalande? To honor a French astronomer of great importance. Joseph Jérôme Lefrançois de Lalande was born in 1732. He died in 1807.
Allée Joseph Lalande is named for a man who left a significant mark on astronomy. Lalande’s early life pointed toward a career in law. Fate intervened during his studies in Paris. He stayed at the Hôtel de Cluny. There, astronomer Joseph-Nicolas Delisle had set up an observatory. Lalande became Delisle’s student. He also studied with Pierre Charles Le Monnier.
Lalande’s skills shone. Le Monnier sent him to Berlin. There, Lalande observed the lunar parallax. Simultaneously Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille observed from the Cape of Good Hope. This collaboration determined the Earth-Moon distance. This success earned Lalande entry into the Berlin Academy of Sciences at just 21. In 1753 he was elected to the French Academy of Sciences.
Allée Joseph Lalande recognizes Lalande’s contribution to planetary theory. In 1759, he published a revised edition of Edmond Halley’s tables. This included a history of Halley’s Comet. He assisted Alexis Clairaut and Nicole-Reine Lepaute in calculating its return that year.
In 1762, Delisle chose Lalande as his successor. Lalande took his place as the chair of astronomy at the Collège de France. For 46 years, Lalande held this position. His home became a hub for astronomical study. Noteworthy pupils included Delambre and Pierre Méchain. His nephew Michel Lalande also studied with him.
Allée Joseph Lalande is a reminder of Lalande’s fame from the 1769 transit of Venus. Despite his achievements, his difficult personality created enemies.
Lalande founded the “Les Sciences” lodge in Paris in 1766. Later he renamed it “Les Neuf Soeurs”. In 1776, he arranged for Benjamin Franklin to be its first leader.
Lalande helped popularize astronomy as a lecturer and writer. His planetary tables had corrections for mutual perturbations. They remained the best until the late 1700s. In 1801, he created the Lalande Prize. It was awarded for astronomical advancements.
Did you know Lalande was an atheist? He even wrote a dictionary of atheists. Supplements were added after his death. He never married. Some say he had a daughter. Her name was Marie-Jeanne de Lalande. She helped him with his work. But this may not be true.
In 1795, Lalande’s staff observed Neptune. They noted its position with uncertainty. The notation could have indicated an error. Later review of the records confirmed it was Neptune. The position error was from the planet’s motion. These records improved the calculation of Neptune’s orbit.
Allée Joseph Lalande connects us to a man of science. He was elected to several academies. His name is on the Eiffel Tower. The lunar crater Lalande bears his name. A high school in Bourg-en-Bresse carries his name. Its motto is “De leurs travaux naîtra leur gloire.” It means “From their work will come their glory.”
Lalande’s legacy lives on. He was an astronomer who expanded our understanding of the cosmos.