Hugo von Seeliger
Encyclopedia
Hugo von Seeliger also known as Hugo Hans Ritter von Seeliger, was a German
astronomer, often considered the most important astronomer of his day.
He was born in Silesia
, completed high school in Teschen
in 1867, and studied at the Universities of Heidelberg and Leipzig
. He earned a doctorate in astronomy in 1872 from the latter, studying under Carl Christian Bruhns. He was on the staff of the University of Bonn
Observatory until 1877, as an assistant to Friedrich Wilhelm Argelander
. In 1874, he directed the German expedition to the Auckland Islands
to observe the transit of Venus
. In 1881, he became the Director of the Gotha Observatory
, and in 1882 became a Professor of Astronomy and Director of the Observatory at the University of Munich, which post he held until his death. His students included Hans Kienle, Ernst Anding, Julius Bauschinger
, Paul ten Bruggencate
, Gustav Herglotz
, Richard Schorr
, and especially Karl Schwarzschild
, who earned a doctorate under him in 1898, and acknowledged Seeliger's influence in speeches throughout his career.
He was elected an Associate of the Royal Astronomical Society
in 1892, and President of the Astronomische Gesellschaft
from 1897 to 1921. He received numerous honours and medals, including knighthood (Ritter), between 1896 and 1917.
His contributions to astronomy include an explanation of the anomalous motion of the perihelion of Mercury (later one of the main tests of general relativity
), a theory of nova
coming from the collision of a star with a cloud of gas, and his confirmation of James Clerk Maxwell
's theories of the composition of the rings of Saturn
by studying variations in their albedo. However his main interest was in the stellar statistics of the Bonner Durchmusterung and Bonn section of the Astronomische Gesellschaft star catalogues, and in the conclusions these led about the structure of the universe. His views about the dimensions of our galaxy were consistent with Jacobus Kapteyn
's later studies.
He continued his work until his death, on December 2, 1924, aged 75.
The asteroid
892 Seeligeria
and the lunar crater Seeliger
were named in his honour. The brightening of Saturn's rings at opposition is known as the Seeliger Effect, to acknowledge his pioneering research in this field.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
astronomer, often considered the most important astronomer of his day.
He was born in Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
, completed high school in Teschen
Cieszyn
Cieszyn is a border-town and the seat of Cieszyn County, Silesian Voivodeship, southern Poland. It has 36,109 inhabitants . Cieszyn lies on the Olza River, a tributary of the Oder river, opposite Český Těšín....
in 1867, and studied at the Universities of Heidelberg and Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
. He earned a doctorate in astronomy in 1872 from the latter, studying under Carl Christian Bruhns. He was on the staff of the University of Bonn
University of Bonn
The University of Bonn is a public research university located in Bonn, Germany. Founded in its present form in 1818, as the linear successor of earlier academic institutions, the University of Bonn is today one of the leading universities in Germany. The University of Bonn offers a large number...
Observatory until 1877, as an assistant to Friedrich Wilhelm Argelander
Friedrich Wilhelm Argelander
Friedrich Wilhelm August Argelander was a German astronomer. He is known for his determinations of stellar brightnesses, positions, and distances.- Life and work :...
. In 1874, he directed the German expedition to the Auckland Islands
Auckland Islands
The Auckland Islands are an archipelago of the New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands and include Auckland Island, Adams Island, Enderby Island, Disappointment Island, Ewing Island, Rose Island, Dundas Island and Green Island, with a combined area of...
to observe the transit of Venus
Transit of Venus
A transit of Venus across the Sun takes place when the planet Venus passes directly between the Sun and Earth, becoming visible against the solar disk. During a transit, Venus can be seen from Earth as a small black disk moving across the face of the Sun...
. In 1881, he became the Director of the Gotha Observatory
Gotha Observatory
Gotha Observatory was a German astronomical observatory located on Seeberg hill near Gotha, Thuringia, Germany...
, and in 1882 became a Professor of Astronomy and Director of the Observatory at the University of Munich, which post he held until his death. His students included Hans Kienle, Ernst Anding, Julius Bauschinger
Julius Bauschinger
-Biography:Julius Bauschinger was born in Fürth, the son of the physicist Johann Bauschinger. He studied at the Universities of Munich and Berlin, graduating under the direction of Hugo Hans von Seeliger with a thesis titled "Studies on the motion of the planet Mercury"...
, Paul ten Bruggencate
Paul ten Bruggencate
Paul ten Bruggencate was a German astronomer and astrophysicist.-Youth and education:Ten Bruggencate was born in Arosa, Switzerland and went to several schools in Switzerland, in the Netherlands and in Germany. He further studied at the University of Munich and started his PhD work with Hugo von...
, Gustav Herglotz
Gustav Herglotz
Gustav Herglotz was a German mathematician. He is best known for his works on the theory of relativity and seismology....
, Richard Schorr
Richard Schorr
Richard Reinhard Emil Schorr , was an astronomer. The lunar crater Schorr and the asteroid 1235 Schorria are named after him....
, and especially Karl Schwarzschild
Karl Schwarzschild
Karl Schwarzschild was a German physicist. He is also the father of astrophysicist Martin Schwarzschild.He is best known for providing the first exact solution to the Einstein field equations of general relativity, for the limited case of a single spherical non-rotating mass, which he accomplished...
, who earned a doctorate under him in 1898, and acknowledged Seeliger's influence in speeches throughout his career.
He was elected an Associate of the Royal Astronomical Society
Royal Astronomical Society
The Royal Astronomical Society is a learned society that began as the Astronomical Society of London in 1820 to support astronomical research . It became the Royal Astronomical Society in 1831 on receiving its Royal Charter from William IV...
in 1892, and President of the Astronomische Gesellschaft
Astronomische Gesellschaft
The Astronomische Gesellschaft is an astronomical society established in 1863 in Heidelberg, the second oldest astronomical society after the Royal Astronomical Society....
from 1897 to 1921. He received numerous honours and medals, including knighthood (Ritter), between 1896 and 1917.
His contributions to astronomy include an explanation of the anomalous motion of the perihelion of Mercury (later one of the main tests of general relativity
Tests of general relativity
At its introduction in 1915, the general theory of relativity did not have a solid empirical foundation. It was known that it correctly accounted for the "anomalous" precession of the perihelion of Mercury and on philosophical grounds it was considered satisfying that it was able to unify Newton's...
), a theory of nova
Nova
A nova is a cataclysmic nuclear explosion in a star caused by the accretion of hydrogen on to the surface of a white dwarf star, which ignites and starts nuclear fusion in a runaway manner...
coming from the collision of a star with a cloud of gas, and his confirmation of James Clerk Maxwell
James Clerk Maxwell
James Clerk Maxwell of Glenlair was a Scottish physicist and mathematician. His most prominent achievement was formulating classical electromagnetic theory. This united all previously unrelated observations, experiments and equations of electricity, magnetism and optics into a consistent theory...
's theories of the composition of the rings of Saturn
Rings of Saturn
The rings of Saturn are the most extensive planetary ring system of any planet in the Solar System. They consist of countless small particles, ranging in size from micrometres to metres, that form clumps that in turn orbit about Saturn...
by studying variations in their albedo. However his main interest was in the stellar statistics of the Bonner Durchmusterung and Bonn section of the Astronomische Gesellschaft star catalogues, and in the conclusions these led about the structure of the universe. His views about the dimensions of our galaxy were consistent with Jacobus Kapteyn
Jacobus Kapteyn
Jacobus Cornelius Kapteyn, was a Dutch astronomer, best known for his extensive studies of the Milky Way and as the first discoverer of evidence for galactic rotation....
's later studies.
He continued his work until his death, on December 2, 1924, aged 75.
The asteroid
Asteroid
Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
892 Seeligeria
892 Seeligeria
-External links:*...
and the lunar crater Seeliger
Seeliger (crater)
Seeliger is a relatively small lunar impact crater that lies near the southeastern edge of Sinus Medii. This is a circular, cup-shaped feature that has not been appreciably worn by impact erosion....
were named in his honour. The brightening of Saturn's rings at opposition is known as the Seeliger Effect, to acknowledge his pioneering research in this field.