University observatory Graz

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The University Observatory Graz is the astronomical observatory of the Karl-Franzens-University Graz . In the past it was also important in research, but today it is mainly used for student training.

The observatory is located above a wing of the physics building of the university (8010 Graz , Universitätsplatz 5) on the 3rd / 4th floor. Floor. The previous operator, the Astronomical Institute, became part of the Institute for Geophysics, Astrophysics and Meteorology (IGAM) in 1999, which in turn has been part of the Institute for Physics since April 1, 2004 under the same abbreviation as the Department of Geophysics, Astrophysics and Meteorology.

Founding history

Astronomy was only a minor subject in the university founded by the Jesuits in 1585/86 , which under their leadership existed until the third quarter of the 18th century. It was taught more intensively by Johannes Kepler from 1594 to 1600 at the Protestant collegiate school. A real observatory was only founded in 1745: the so-called " Mathematical Tower " (in line with the famous Kremsmünster observatory ) was a two-story, almost 12-meter-high structure on the west side of the former university building in Bürgergasse and was equipped with astronomical and meteorological devices. On the first floor of the tower were lavishly equipped museums for mathematics and physics. The second floor was used for those astronomical observations that only required a clear view in one direction. This mainly included measurements with wall quadrants and meridian circles. The masonry showed an observation gap to the south. The largest quadrant that was used here had a radius of 2.5 meters. A platform, open on all sides, rose above the second floor of the tower, on which transportable telescopes could be set up.

However, the magnificent tower was demolished fourteen years after the Jesuit order was abolished in 1787 as part of a reform of the educational system in Austria. The Graz chair for astronomy was closed in 1774.

When a new physical institute building was built in 1872–75 - at a location much further to the east, in the Geidorf district of Graz - a modest "astronomical tower" was added to it. The mathematician Karl Friesach (1821–1891) was initially appointed head of this new Graz University Observatory. A few years later, regular astronomy lessons were taken up (the establishment of an extraordinary astronomy department took place in 1891; the first holder of this position was Josef von Hepperger ).

The institute also has the Kanzelhöhe solar observatory on the 1910 m high Gerlitzen in Carinthia , where most of the sunny days in southern Austria are recorded, as a branch office for daily solar observations . Construction began in World War II and was completed and operated by the British occupying forces after 1945 .

In the 1970s - together with the geodesists of Graz University of Technology - a closer branch was established east of the city at Lustbühel near Waltendorf , where observational research is possible under better air conditions and with newer instruments.

Equipment of the city observatory

Until around 1950 (?) The observatory was also used for location and time determinations and for photometry (measurements of star brightness ), in which areas the light pollution is relatively minor. Today it is no longer used for scientific night observations, but primarily for training and temporary solar observations .

Equipment of the branch offices

  • Lustbühel Observatory : see there for details;
    After the Second World War, the construction of a new small observatory on the Lustbühel was planned, but only implemented after several preliminary stages in 1976. Today, modern instruments from Zeiss and ASA (Astro Systeme Austria) are used to conduct photometry and astrometry of bodies of the solar system, and the geodesy institutes also do cosmic geodesy for earth satellites (especially for GPS and laser satellites ).
  • Kanzelhöhe solar observatory : see there.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Annual report 1999 . In: Astronomical Society (Hrsg.): Communications of the Astronomical Society . tape 83 , 2000, pp. 359-367 ( online (PDF; 175 kB)).
  2. ↑ Annual report 2004 . In: Astronomical Society (Hrsg.): Communications of the Astronomical Society . tape 88 , 2005, pp. 375–383 ( online (PDF; 151 kB)).

literature

  • Isolde Müller and Thomas Posch (eds.): The old Jesuit observatory in Graz. Annotated typescript by Johann Steinmayr. In: Amounts for the history of astronomy, Volume 11 (= Acta Historica Astronomiae, Vol. 43). Harri Deutsch Verlag, Frankfurt am Main 2011, pp. 232–260.

Web links

Coordinates: 47 ° 4 ′ 41.8 ″  N , 15 ° 26 ′ 55.1 ″  E