Eduard Schönfeld

Eduard Schönfeld ( born December 22, 1828 in Hildburghausen, † May 1, 1891 in Bonn ) was a German astronomer. He is often mentioned in connection with the work of the " Bonner Durchmusterung " as an assistant to FW Argelander.

Life

Eduard Schönfeld was born on December 22, 1828 in Hildburghausen in a Jewish family. From Easter 1834, he attended the public school and the Nonesche Institute in Hildburghausen on the same place the Israelite religion school until 1843. 1838 he came to the grammar school Hildburghausen (up to 1838)

In March 1847, he was a high school and on July 24 he entered Kassel over to the Protestant faith. 1848 to 1849 he studied civil engineering at the Polytechnic School in Hanover. He was expelled from school in 1849, continued to study at the Polytechnic higher trade school in Kassel. He began in the fall to study at the University of Marburg: physics, chemistry, mineralogy, astronomy then in Christian Ludwig Gerling. November 29 first public observation at the Marburg Observatory: Entrance of the star Gamma Arietis. Theoria motus translation of corporum Coelestium of Carl Friedrich Gauss and the Méchanique Céleste by Pierre -Simon Laplace.

In 1851 he traveled to Bonn to Friedrich Wilhelm August Argelander. In 1852 he started on April 23, the study of astronomy in Argelander. Relevant employees on the northern Bonner Durchmusterung until their completion 1868. 1853 at Easter he was assistant Argelanders. In 1854 he received his doctorate on August 9 in Bonn Dr. phil. and 1857 follows the habilitation on August 6 in Bonn.

In 1859, he was in October professor and director of the observatory in Mannheim. In 1860, he married on June 12, Helene Noeggerath 1861 on July 6, the daughter Amalie was born.

1862 appears his publication About the nebulae and 1863 on 2 March was the birth of his son Fritz. Start the calibration trips (up to 1875). Start of the use for the creation and development of the Astronomical Society. Publication via the variable stars. 1864 on September 15, followed by the birth of his daughter Anna, and the publication over the dark stellar companion. 1866 following the publication of the catalog of variable stars with the inclusion of new stars and 1874 part 1 of part 2.

In 1875 he was a full professor and director of the observatory in Bonn. Beginning of the southern survey. Obituary for Argelander. Secretary and board member of the Astronomical Society. 1881 carried the completion of the southern survey. 1886 is the appearance of the Bonner Durchmusterung, southern part.

In 1887 he was elected to the corr member of the Prussian Academy of Sciences on 20 February. 1887 and 1888 he was rector of the University of Bonn. He died on 1 May 1891 in Bonn.

Eduard Schönfeld is dedicated to the asteroid ( 5926 ) Schönfeld. Also named after him is a crater on the far side of the moon.

Works

• About the Nebulae, 1862
• About the Variable Stars, 1863
• Catalogue of variable stars with the inclusion of new stars, Part 1: 1866, Part 2: 1874
• Bonner Durchmusterung, southern part, 1886