The Role of Gassendi’s Dutch Correspondents in his Astronomical Work

Gassendi was much engaged in observational astronomy and in the effort to circulate astronomical knowledge. He corresponded with astronomers living in several European countries. The exchanges he had with Dutch correspondents, notably Martin Hortensius and Govaart Wendelen, were among the most fruitful. These exchanges, which followed the rules of the Republic of Letters, circulated information in support of long-term projects, such as the revision of geographical coordinates and cosmic dimensions, at the moment when the use of the telescope in combination with traditional measuring instruments established a higher standard of accuracy.