APPENDIX IV 

 THE ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONS AT THE POLE 



Note by Professor H. Geelmuyden 



Christiania, 

 September 16, 1912. 



When requested this summer to receive the astronomical observa- 

 tions from Roald Amundsen's South Pole Expedition, for the 

 purpose of working them out, I at once put myself in communica- 

 tion with Mr. A. Alexander (a mathematical master) to get him 

 to undertake this work, while indicating the manner in which the 

 materials could be best dealt with. As Mr. Alexander had in a very 

 eflScient manner participated in the working out of the observations 

 from Nansen's Fram Expedition, and since then had calculated the 

 astronomical observations from Amundsen's Gj'oa Expedition, and 

 from Captain Isachsen's expeditions to Spitzbergen, I knew by 

 experience that he was not only a reliable and painstaking calcu- 

 lator, but that he also has so full an insight into the theoretical 

 basis, that he is capable of working without being bound down by 

 instructions. 



{Signed) H. Geelmuyden, 



Professor of Astronomy, 



The Observatory of the University, 



Christiania. 



399 



