Väisälä

Väisälä is a surname of Finnish origin. It is most famously associated with the Väisälä brothers, Yrjö Väisälä (1891-1971) and Vilho Väisälä (1889-1969), both prominent Finnish scientists. Yrjö Väisälä was an astronomer and physicist known for his work on celestial mechanics and his discovery of asteroids and comets. Vilho Väisälä was an inventor and meteorologist, recognized for his development of instruments for measuring atmospheric conditions, most notably the Väisälä radiosonde.

The surname Väisälä is derived from the Finnish word "väisä," which can refer to a place where something is stored or kept, or a storage area. It is a relatively common surname in Finland. Beyond the scientific achievements of the Väisälä brothers, the name has also been adopted for various entities, including the Väisälä Foundation, which supports scientific research in Finland, and the asteroid 2497 Väisälä, named in honor of Yrjö Väisälä. The legacy of the Väisälä family continues to be recognized in scientific and academic circles.