Paul Viktor Neugebauer

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Paul Viktor Neugebauer (born December 5, 1878 in Breslau , † March 3, 1940 in Wernigerode ) was a German astronomer .

Paul Viktor Neugebauer was the son of the senior teacher Paul Neugebauer and his wife Valeska (née Groetschel). He graduated from high school in 1897 with a school leaving certificate and then studied astronomy, mathematics and physics at the University of Wroclaw . In 1900 he finished his studies with a dissertation on perturbation calculation.

His father had already carried out calculations for the Astronomical Computing Institute in Berlin for many years as an external employee . In 1901 Neugebauer took up a position as a research assistant at the computing institute. His field of work was initially the minor planets , for which the first orbit determinations, orbit improvements, fault calculations, definitive orbit determinations and the calculation of ephemeris had to be carried out. From 1911 he took over the editing of the Astronomical Annual Report published by the Rechen-Institut , of which he had published a total of 17 volumes up to 1935 - with a break of several years due to military service and temporary work on minor planets as well as for the Berlin Astronomical Yearbook . In 1914 Neugebauer was appointed an observator , and in 1924 he was given the title of professor.

In addition to his official obligations, Neugebauer also worked on chronological topics. Since the tables used by astronomers to calculate the movements of the sun, moon and planets were on the one hand too complicated for use by historians and on the other hand unnecessarily precise, Neugebauer created simplified tables for historical and chronological purposes. In 1904/1905 he initially published "Abbreviated tables of the sun and the great planets" , "Abbreviated tables of the moon" and "Tables for calculating the rising and setting of the stars" . A new edition, which was soon necessary, appeared in a completely revised and greatly expanded form as “Tables for Astronomical Chronology” in 3 volumes. This was followed by the textbook “Astronomical Chronology” in two volumes, the “Auxiliary tables for technical chronology” and other chronological publications.

Neugebauer actively participated in work on the “New Fundamentals Catalog” by J. Peters, in various large table works, in Hermann von Struve's satellite theories , in determining double star orbits for Wilhelm Oswald Lohse and in calculating the faults of the Bielids . In addition, he dealt with scientific and technical photography, carried out botanical studies and put on a rock collection.

Works (selection)

  • A contribution to the theory of special disturbances with application to an improvement in the orbit of the planet (196) Philomela. Diss., Breslau 1901
  • Abbreviated tables of the sun and the great planets. Berlin 1904 ( online )
  • Abbreviated tables of the moon together with tables for calculating the daily rising and setting of the stars. Berlin 1905 ( online )
  • Astronomical Chronology. in 2 volumes, Berlin 1929

literature

Web links
personal data
SURNAME Neugebauer, Paul Viktor
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German astronomer
DATE OF BIRTH December 5, 1878
PLACE OF BIRTH Wroclaw
DATE OF DEATH March 3, 1940
Place of death Wernigerode