Royal Netherlands Astronomical Society / Koninklijke Nederlandse Astronomenclub

The Pastoor Schmeits Prize is a prize for exceptional astronomical research by an astronomer who is Dutch or works in the Netherlands, for work performed before their 40th birthday. The prize is named after Pastor Maria Paschalis Schmeits, a Jesuit priest (1851 - 1919) from Sittard. Pastoor Schmeits had diverse interests: in addition to his pastoral work, he occupied himself with architecture, music, literature, history, botany and zoology. In the last part of his life, astronomy fascinated him especially. In June 1919 he instated the 'Association Pastor Schmeits for Astronomy', which had a starting capital of 2000 guilders.

Awardees / Prijswinnaars