Walter Horn (astronomer)
Walter Horn (born August 22, 1881 in Eiserfeld near Siegen , † September 17, 1967 in Solingen ) was a German astronomer .
life and work
Walter Horn completed a degree in philology with the subjects mathematics and physics. In 1909 he went as a private tutor to Solingen , where he shortly afterwards a job as a teacher at Ohligs-Walder grammar school , today's Humboldt High School received. In 1946 Horn retired as a teacher.
It is thanks to his scientific interest in educational talent that an astronomical association was founded in Solingen in 1921. Even then there were many young people who Horn knew how to get excited about astronomy . Until his death, Walter Horn remained chairman of the Ohligs-Wald astronomical association, which was later renamed the Solingen Astronomical Association .
In 1923/1924 the association acquired a plot of land from the city of Ohligs for the planned observatory in the Weyer district. Because the association did not have the funds for a dome, Horn drew up the building plans for a cylindrical in-house construction that has survived to this day. The observatory, which opened on October 5, 1924, is one of the oldest facilities in Germany created by amateur astronomers.
At the suggestion of the Walter Horn Society e. V. - in honor of Horn, the sponsoring association of the Solingen observatory has been called this since 1967 - an asteroid was named after him in 2002: (2749) Walterhorn .
Web links
- Walter Horn on the website of the Solingen observatory
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Horn, Walter |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | German astronomer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | August 22, 1881 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Wins |
| DATE OF DEATH | 17th September 1967 |
| Place of death | Solingen |