Correspondance Astronomique

The Correspondance Astronomique , with the full title Correspondance astronomique, géographique, hydrographique et statistique du Baron de Zach, Génes chez A. Ponthenier , was published in Genoa from 1818 to 1826 . It was the third astronomical journal published by Franz Xaver von Zach .

Zach, the astronomer appointed to Gotha by Duke Ernst II of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg in 1786 , built the Seeberg observatory and developed it into a European center of astronomy.

After consultation with his scientific colleagues, especially on the occasion of the first European astronomical congress in 1798, he began to develop specialist journals for quick communication. From that year on he published the General Geographical Ephemeris at Bertuch in Weimar.

From 1800 the monthly correspondence followed for the promotion of geography and celestial science , which he was in charge of until he left Gotha in 1806. Bernhard von Lindenau published this magazine until 1817.

Zach, who lived with the Dowager Duchess in southern France and later in Genoa , was the editor of Correspondance Astronomique , which he directed from 1818 until it was hired in 1826. He tried, although no longer active himself, to win as many scientists as possible to collaborate and thereby to achieve general progress in astronomical science. However, the number of co-authors melted down, the publication in Italy made delivery on time difficult. Zach's polemics against some of his colleagues were also detrimental.

Above all, however, an effective competition had appeared in the meantime: Heinrich Christian Schumacher (1780–1850) had published the Astronomical News since 1821 , which quickly gained great importance in Germany and Europe and continues to this day.