Johann Georg Palitzsch

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Engraving by Christian Gottfried Schulze (1782) after Graff painting from 1777
Gravestone in the cemetery of the Leubnitz-Neuostra church , probably donated by Dresden Freemasons
Palitzsch monument
Palitzsch fountain
Johann Georg Palitzsch School with a mural by Christian SF Gersdorf
Street sign in Freital-Döhlen
Palitzsch crater and “footprint” on the moon

Johann Georg (e) Palitzsch (born June 11, 1723 in Prohlis ; † February 21, 1788 ibid) was a Saxon natural scientist ("peasant astronomer", "learned farmer") who became famous for the discovery of the comet predicted by Halley and is famous today especially known to lovers of the history of astronomy . (alternative spellings: Palizsch, Pahlitzsch, Palitsch, Palitch etc.)

Live and act

youth

Raised by a strict stepfather to be a successful farmer, Palitzsch acquired knowledge of astronomy, physics and botany in self-study; animated by the sermons in the Leubnitzer church and the private reading of the Bible. The acquaintance with the Tolkewitz thread merchant Christian Gärtner was very important , on whose achievements as a telescope maker and astronomer and his relationships with the electoral court he could build.

Palitzsch received the latest scientific information in the Mathematisch-Physikalischer Salon , where he regularly delivered his weather observations .

1758/59

On December 25, 1758, Palitzsch discovered the return of Halley's Comet predicted by Edmond Halley . Until then, comets had appeared unexpectedly and (mostly dark) prophecies were made on them. Now, on the other hand, there was the prophecy of a comet, which the learned world was eagerly awaiting. In order to confirm Newton's theory of gravity for all to see, the French astronomer Charles Messier, later known as the great comet discoverer, was hired by Joseph-Nicolas Delisle specifically for this task. But the comet was not found in Paris until January 21, 1759.

The private scholar Christian Gotthold Hoffmann published Palitzsch's and his own observations in the "Dreßdnische Gelehrten Advertisements". This was read by the “lover of star science” (according to Lalande presumably Johann Heinrich Winckler ) in Leipzig , who was now able to predict the comet's further orbit until June at the end of January 1759. Gottfried Heinsius forwarded this news to Delisle in Paris, with whom he had already corresponded on the basis of earlier observations by Christian Gärtner.

Dresden "oddity"

After this discovery, Palitzsch, his exemplary estate, his collection of instruments and curiosities and his botanical garden were an attraction for Dresden residents and foreign visitors.

He discovered, among others, the atmosphere of Venus in 1761 during its transit in front of the sun.

In 1770 Palitzsch was accepted into the " Leipziger Ökonomische Societät " as an associated member because of his agricultural knowledge.

In 1783 his observations of the fluctuation in brightness of the Algol were published in the Philosophical Transactions . He had Hans Moritz von Brühl to thank for these contributions, which once again refreshed his fame throughout Europe . This relationship is exemplary of Palitzsch's good relationship with many scholars and nobles, e. B. also Mendelssohn and Friedrich August III. The acquaintance with many Freemasons is noticeable , e.g. B. Friedrich Wilhelm von Ferber and Karl Christian Canzler .

The introduction of the potato and the lightning rod in the Dresden Elbe Valley are attributed to him. His knowledge in these areas, his interest in almost all things that were within his reach and his lifestyle, which was considered exemplary at the time, are undisputed and proven by many mentions in the press at the time - all over Europe.

Honors

His name is given to three craters ( Palitzsch , Palitzsch A and B) and a valley ( Vallis Palitzsch ) on the moon . The asteroid (11970) Palitzsch was dedicated to him on March 28, 2002.

In his former home village (now part of Dresden) he is honored by the Palitzsch Museum and the Palitzsch Society. There is the Palitzsch monument erected in 1877, the Palitzsch fountain and Georg-Palitzsch-Strasse, designed in 1923 and moved to the 121st “Johann Georg Palitzsch” middle school in 1982.

In Freital-Döhlen , the manor house of the Kammergut Döhlen was named the cultural center of a Neubauer settlement and “Bauer-Palitzsch-Haus” in 1949 . The adjacent street has also been called Johann-Georg-Palitzsch-Hof since then.

The Johann Georg Palitzsch Medal is named after him.

Publications

  • Observations on the Obscuration of the Star Algol, by Palitch, a Farmer. Communicated in a Letter from the Count de Bruhl, FRS to Sir Joseph Banks, Bart. PRS In: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, Vol. 74, p. 4 (1784) ( online ).
  • Further Observations upon Algol. By the same. In: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, Vol. 74, p. 5 ( online ).

literature

  • Annette Dubbers: Prohlis - From the history of a Dresden district . 1st edition. Self-published by A. Dubbers, Dresden 2012, ISBN 978-3-937199-59-7 .
  • Jürgen Helfricht : Astronomical history of Dresden . 1st edition. Hellerau-Verlag, Dresden 2001, ISBN 3-910184-76-6 .
  • Jürgen Helfricht: Warlocks and peasant astronomers in Saxony . 1st edition. Tauchaer Verlag, Taucha 1999, ISBN 3-910074-97-9 .
  • Jürgen Helfricht; Siegfried Koge: Chr. Gärtner and JG Palitzsch - farmer astronomers from Tolkewitz and Prohlis near Dresden . Publications of the Pulsnitz observatory in 1990.
  • Siegfried Koge: Johann Georg Palitzsch and the discovery of Halley's comet . In: Lectures and writings of the Archenhold observatory . No. 66, Berlin 1987.
  • Günther:  Palitzsch, Johann Georg . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 25, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1887, p. 80 f.
  • Friedrich Theile: Johann Georg Palitzsch. A picture of life . Leipzig 1878, commissioned by Ludwig Senf.
  • (anonymous): Silhouettes of noble Germans . Volume 3 / p. 193-240. Hendel, Hall 1784.
  • Karl Wilhelm Daßdorf : Description of the most excellent peculiarities of the electoral residence city of Dresden and some surrounding areas. Dresden 1782, on Palitzsch pp. 777–782.
  • GWE Beekman: The Farmer Astronomer. Sky & Telescope, May 1990, pp. 548-550.

Web links

Commons : Johann Georg Palitzsch  - Album with pictures, videos and audio files

Footnotes and individual references

  1. ↑ In "New Child Friend" (Volume 6, 1795) the Latin text is translated as follows under the copperplate engraving by CG Schulze:

    “Johann George Palizsch, farmer in Prohlis near Dresden, the most diligent worker of his father's fields, an excellent astronomical expert, natural scientist, plant connoisseur, almost no stranger to any science, a man who was his own teacher, pious, sincere, a wise man in his whole life , born June 11, 1723. "

    On his tomb it says:

    “A model for the inquiring hiker - as a father, as a husband, as a friend, expecting the reward of his virtue - PA (H) LITZSCH sleeps in this dwelling - née. June 11, 1723 - died February 21, 1788 in Prohlis "

  2. ↑ Generally for periodic comets and especially for the 1P / Halley (NASA) , which dates back to 240 BC. Chr. Can be traced back, the naming and the term "discovery" is debatable. NASA leads Palitzsch as a discoverer.
  3. ↑ New attempts at useful collections on the history of nature and art, especially from Ober-Sachßen . tape 4 . Altenburg 1765, p. 595 ( slub-dresden.de ).
  4. ↑ "... Palitzsch became very well known among astronomers with this important discovery ...", messier.seds.org (English, accessed October 10, 2014).
  5. ↑ messier.seds.org (accessed October 10, 2014).
  6. ↑ La Lande: Mémoire sur le retour de la Cométe de 1682, observé en 1759…, in: Historie de'l Académie Royale des Sciences (for the year 1759, published 1765) avec les Mémoires de Mathématique & de Physique… As early April the comet reappeared after, as expected, trailing its orbit with the perihelion behind the sun as seen from the earth, the alleged discovery of a farmer from Saxony, which was particularly hard hit by the Seven Years' War, initially raised great doubts. The admiration was all the greater afterwards.
  7. ↑ Example:

    “Honest, good Palisch, how many urban folly have taken refuge in your rural truth and sought consolation from you; for you gave more faithfully than it was believed and used. Even clergy near and far did not fail to make inquiries in order to perhaps take from the vicinity of the Last Judgment Stof for heartbreaking penance admonitions ... "

    - The ridiculous fear of June 12, 1785 .: In: For older literature and newer reading, 3rd issue, 1785.
  8. ↑ Funfzehende displaying the Leipzig economic Societät. In: Leipziger Intellölker-Blatt 1770, “Beylage zum 50sten Stück”, p. 483, online at archive.org.
  9. ^ A letter from Palitzsch to the Count (pp. 247–249) within the excerpts from letters, in: For older literature and newer reading. 1784, Volume 1, Issue 3, pp. 243-252.
  10. ↑ Only the reports of death known to the Palitzsch Museum in: Dreßdnish scholars advertisements, Leipziger Zeitung, magazine of Saxon history, magazine for the latest in physics and natural history, Deutsche Zeitung, Churpfalzbaierisches Intellektivenblatt, Der Bote aus Thüringen, The Gentleman's Magazine, The Scots Magazine, Mercure de France, Journal des savants, Wekelijks nieuws uit Loven, Ommelander Courant, Posttidningar Stockholm.
  11. ^ Palitzsch Museum as a branch of the Dresden Technical Collections
  12. ↑ Edgar Rudolph: village astronomers the Dresden Elbe Valley on the trail. in: Sächsische Heimatblätter 1978, issue 3, p. 105.
personal data
SURNAME Palitzsch, Johann Georg
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Palitzsch, Johann George
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German natural scientist
DATE OF BIRTH June 11, 1723
PLACE OF BIRTH Prohlis
DATE OF DEATH February 21, 1788
Place of death Prohlis