Theodor von Oppolzer
Theodore Egon Ritter von Oppolzer ( born October 26, 1841 in Prague; † 26 December 1886 in Vienna ) was an Austrian astronomer German Bohemian origin, was primarily known for his Canon of Eclipses (1887 ) worldwide.
Life
Theodore was the son of the physician Johann von Oppolzer (1808-1871) and his wife Maria Pleischl, a daughter of the chemist Adolf Pleischl. From the age of nine Oppolzer received instruction from private tutors, and in 1859 it reached as "external " the Matura at Piaristengymnasium. He then studied at " urgent desire " of his father's medicine in his home town and finished this study in 1865 with a PhD.
But the same time he heard astronomical and mathematical lectures. Due to his extensive knowledge of astronomy Oppolzer 1866 habilitation without proper promotion and without habilitation thesis in this subject. Until this year, he had already published nearly 80 papers in his specialty. In the garden of his parents' estate he built in these years, a powerful private observatory.
1865 married Oppolzer in Baden (Lower Austria ) Celestine Mautner of Markhofgasse. With her he had six children, including the future astronomer Egon von Oppolzer.
1870 appointed to Oppolzer associate professor of theoretical astronomy. Five years later, he accepted a professorship at the University of Vienna, where he was professor as Full Professor of Astronomy and Geodesy. 1872 he was appointed to the Commission of the European arc measurement and in the following year to the board of kk Degree measurement Bureau.
Oppolzer calculated and observed the total solar eclipse of August 18, 1868 in Aden, the transit of Venus in 1874 in Iasi, Romania, and the Mercury passes in 1868 and 1878 in his private observatory.
In 1879 he became a corresponding member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and in 1882 elected him to the Academy of Sciences in Vienna as a full member. Three years later he became a full member of the Leopoldina ( German Academy of Natural Scientists ). 1885 could Oppolzer 's Canon of Eclipses imagine, the calculation of about 8000 solar and 5000 lunar eclipses between 1208 BC and 2163 AD
At the age of 45 years died of Oppolzer Theodor Egon on 26 December 1886 in Vienna. His final resting place he found in the oppolzerschen family vault in the old arcade on the Viennese central cemetery.
In 1874 in Vienna Inner City (1st district) was named the Oppolzergasse after him and his father Johann von Oppolzer. Likewise, the asteroid ( 1492) Oppolzer were named after him, as well as the lunar crater Oppolzer.
Writings
- Canon of Eclipses (1887 )
- Textbook of orbit determination of comets and planets (1870 )
- About the eclipse of the Shu-King, In: Monthly Report of the Royal Academy of Sciences in Berlin from February 1880, pp. 166-185