Johann Heinrich Fritsch

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Johann Heinrich Fritsch, pastor in Quedlinburg (painting in Marktkirche Quedlinburg, Germany)

Johann Heinrich Fritsch (born February 3, 1772 in Quedlinburg ; † 1829 there ) was Protestant chief preacher and former "Royal Prussia. Superintendent of the Dioces of Quedlinburg" at St. Benedict's Church in Quedlinburg. The city owes the first complete chronicle to him with the name "History of the former Reichsstift and the city of Quedlinburg", which appeared in 1828.

One of his scientific hobbies was amateur astronomy, which he passionately pursued after he was given an English telescope by Johann Elert Bode from Berlin. The discovery of the fluctuation in brightness of the variable star Epsilon Aurigae is ascribed to him. In 1821 he discovered that its brightness was significantly lower than indicated on old star maps. He wrote to Bode on February 20, 1821: “I often saw the epsilon in the carter's goat so weakly against Zeta and Eta that it was hardly recognizable. Has this already been observed? ”Bode remarks:“ Not to my knowledge, Flamstedt (sic!) And Piazzi give ε, ζ, η the fourth quantity. “The brightness of ε Aurigae fluctuates in the 27.1 year cycle, which is later changed by others Astronomers. The next observer of variability was J. Heis in 1843, who was not aware of Fritsch's discovery. Fritsch is therefore considered to be the discoverer of the variability of ε Aurigae, which at the beginning of 1821 was probably at its minimum brightness. That is why this long-period variable star is also called the “Star of Quedlinburg”.

Bode reports in the Astronomical Yearbook for the year 1821 on the observations of the comet Nicolet, which was only discovered shortly before, by Fritsch. There he also mentions his observation that the star ε Aurigae is markedly darker than recorded in old maps.

Fritsch also drew maps, and made illustrations and star drawings, many of which were also published.

In 1811 he made a trip through Silesia and the Giant Mountains , about which he also wrote a book.

His wife Sophie Fritsch, née Haupt, was the owner of the Order of Louisen and wrote a book chapter "Memories from Fritsch's domestic life" about her husband in the book Memories of D. Johann Heinrich Fritsch by Albert Becker, Quedlinburg 1837.

The public and school observatory currently under construction in Quedlinburg, Johann Heinrich Fritsch observatory , is to be named in honor of Pastor Fritsch .

Works

  • Johann August Hermes, doctor of theology, consistorial councilor, court preacher and superintendent of Quedlinburg, depicted after his life, character and work , Quedlinburg and Leipzig 1827
  • History of the former Reichsstift and the city of Quedlinburg , Quedlinburg 1828 Link to Google Books with 1st volume 1st and 2nd volume

Web links

Digitized works by Fritsch:

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ A puzzling eclipsing changer: Wolfgang Quester in Stars and Space, December 2008, p. 76ff
personal data
SURNAME Fritsch, Johann Heinrich
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German chief preacher and superintendent
DATE OF BIRTH February 3, 1772
PLACE OF BIRTH Quedlinburg
DATE OF DEATH 1829
Place of death Quedlinburg