Venus 1882 and Jean‐Charles Houzeau

This paper focuses on one particular type of telescope – the heliometer – designed for solving one specific basic problem in astronomy: the scale factor of the solar system. One very special instrument of this type was the “heliometer with unequal focal lengths” designed by the Belgian astronomer Jean-Charles Houzeau for the 1882 transit of Venus. We also draw attention to the most interesting personality of Houzeau, and to his social engagement that went much beyond his work as a scientist (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)