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Podcast: StarDate
Episode: Guillaume Le Gentil
Description: Guillaume Le Gentil spent more than 11 years away from his native France just to witness two brief astronomical events. Along the way, he had to survive war, a hurricane, disease, and grumpy officials. When he got home, he’d lost his job and been declared dead. But the real hardship? He missed both events.
Le Gentil was born 300 years ago this week. He studied theology, but decided on astronomy as a career. He became a member of the Royal Academy of Science at age 28.
Le Gentil and other astronomers hoped to measure a 1761 transit of Ve...