Hermann Mucke

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Hermann Mucke (born March 1, 1935 in Vienna ; † March 12, 2019 there ) was an Austrian astronomer . For many years he was the head of the Vienna Planetarium, the Astronomical Office and the managing director of the Austrian Astronomical Association .

Hermann Mucke in 1981 in the Urania observatory at the double telescope he developed
Ruth and Hermann Mucke at the opening of the Martinsberg meteor station in 2009

Life

Mucke studied physics at the Vienna University of Technology and was soon involved in popular astronomical education . In 1964 he became head of the Vienna Planetarium of the City of Vienna (2nd district, next to the Ferris wheel ), which he made into an internationally respected institution. In 1971 he also took over the management of the Urania observatory . He ran both institutions until his retirement in 2000 and was able to win numerous young star friends to work, including a. at the Uraniastar planetarium program . In connection with his work at the planetarium, Mucke immersed himself in astronomical phenomenology and chronology and, together with Jean Meeus, published two standard works on solar and lunar eclipses .

Many monitoring programs for amateur astronomers go to Mucke back, the comprehensive for that in Austria almost 2,000 persons by 62 years an astronomical yearbook , the Austrian sky calendar , published. Since 1959 he has also published the astronomical monthly Sternenbote .

The asteroid (7074) Muckea was named in his honor.

He was buried in the Simmering fire hall in an honorary grave (Dept. E20, No. 23).

Personal

Hermann Mucke was married to Ruth Mucke, who organized the astronomical office and various events with him. The “ Sterngarten ” in Vienna-Liesing (on the Georgenberg , on the edge of the Vienna Woods ) goes back to a concept by Muckes teacher Oswald Thomas . Its two 16.5 m high pillars for the representation of important points of the sky with markings of their rising and setting positions and the surrounding 2 × 3 sun pillars for marking the sunrises and sunsets at the beginning of the seasons form an “open-air planetarium” for free-eyed star guidance with digital support Projection. Mucke and his team were available to dozens of interested laypeople every month.

In 2008 Mucke planned and initiated an automatic meteor station in Martinsberg (Lower Austria) for the photographic observation of fireballs as part of the Austrian Astronomical Society . It was opened in August 2009 and is operated in cooperation with the Czech observatory Ondrejov . Mucke also provided technical support for the creation of the planet path, which was built around 2000 on the edge of the Lainzer Tiergarten (Vienna 23rd).

Works (selection)

  • The planetarium as an astronomical analog computer system (investigations at the Vienna planetarium ). Annals of the University Observatory Vienna, Volume 27, 1st issue, 1967.
  • Bright comets from −86 to +1950. Astronomical Office Vienna, 2nd edition, 1976.
  • Astronomical phenomenology with the calculator. The Stars (magazine) . 58th Volume, Issue 1, 1982, pp. 30-47.
  • The comet P / Halley as a secular celestial phenomenon. The stars. 61st Volume, No. 5/6, 1985, pp. 276-287.
  • With J. Meeus : Canon of Solar Eclipses −2003 to +2526. Astronomical Office Vienna, 2nd edition, 1992.
  • With J. Meeus: Canon of Lunar Eclipses −2002 to +2526. Astronomical Office Vienna, 3rd edition, 1992.
  • Short astronomical calendars, 1900 to 2000. Vienna Astronomical Office, 1998.
  • Celestial science in the open-air planetarium Vienna. Austrian Astronomical Association, 2002. ISBN 3-9501574-0-9 .
  • Short astronomical calendars, 2001 to 2051. Vienna Astronomical Office, 2009.

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Honorary and historical grave sites in the cemetery fire hall Simmering
personal data
SURNAME Mucke, Hermann
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Austrian astronomer
DATE OF BIRTH March 1, 1935
PLACE OF BIRTH Vienna
DATE OF DEATH March 12, 2019
Place of death Vienna