Friedrich Simon Archenhold
Encyclopedia
Friedrich Simon Archenhold (2 October 1861 in Lichtenau
, Westphalia
- 14 October 1939 in Berlin
) was an astronomer
who founded the Treptow Observatory (Treptow Sternwarte) in Berlin-Treptow. On the basis of Archenhold's plans, the telescope became the world's longest moving refracting telescope
, with a focal length
of 21 meters. The telescope was part of the Great Industrial Exposition of Berlin.
The giant telescope was constructed in Treptow, a suburb of Berlin. The telescope was opened to the public on 1 May 1896 in a temporary wooden structure which was completed in September. By 1908 Archenhold had raised the funds to replace the wooden structure with the building that stands today. Some of the funds came from admission fees to lectures but he also was able to secure funds from the Scottish American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie
.
Archenhold was able to attract numerous well-known scientists and researchers for guest lectures at the Observatory. Perhaps the most famous was Albert Einstein
who gave his first public lecture on the Theory of Relativity
on 2 June 1915.
During 1920 Dr. Archenhold bought a fisherman's house with adobe walls and wooden cladding in the Baltic village of Bansin.
When the long summer nights reduced his observation time F. S. Archenhold would take his family to his summer house in Bansin
. Here he worked on the magazines and papers that he published at the observatory.
By 1938 the Nazi party confiscated the home from the family. When the Russians defeated the Nazis the property was used by the community. The Observatory was named after Archenhold in 1946. Archenhold Sternwarte (Archenhold Observatory)
The Archenhold family had no right to recover any of the 125 acres of land or house until the fall of the Berlin Wall
in 1989. His summer house on Seestrasse, 63 is still standing, but it is in very poor condition. The old house in Bansin is now owned by the grand daughter of Dr. Archenhold.
After runification of Germany the Archenhold Observatory became part of the Deutsches Technikmuseum.
Lichtenau
Lichtenau may refer to:In Germany:* Towns and municipalities:**Hessisch Lichtenau**Lichtenau, Baden-Württemberg**Lichtenau, Bavaria**Lichtenau, Saxony**Lichtenau, Westphalia* Localities:**Lichtenau, Feuchtwangen**Lichtenau, Lübbenau...
, Westphalia
Westphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
- 14 October 1939 in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
) was an astronomer
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
who founded the Treptow Observatory (Treptow Sternwarte) in Berlin-Treptow. On the basis of Archenhold's plans, the telescope became the world's longest moving refracting telescope
Telescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
, with a focal length
Focal length
The focal length of an optical system is a measure of how strongly the system converges or diverges light. For an optical system in air, it is the distance over which initially collimated rays are brought to a focus...
of 21 meters. The telescope was part of the Great Industrial Exposition of Berlin.
The giant telescope was constructed in Treptow, a suburb of Berlin. The telescope was opened to the public on 1 May 1896 in a temporary wooden structure which was completed in September. By 1908 Archenhold had raised the funds to replace the wooden structure with the building that stands today. Some of the funds came from admission fees to lectures but he also was able to secure funds from the Scottish American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...
.
Archenhold was able to attract numerous well-known scientists and researchers for guest lectures at the Observatory. Perhaps the most famous was Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity, effecting a revolution in physics. For this achievement, Einstein is often regarded as the father of modern physics and one of the most prolific intellects in human history...
who gave his first public lecture on the Theory of Relativity
Theory of relativity
The theory of relativity, or simply relativity, encompasses two theories of Albert Einstein: special relativity and general relativity. However, the word relativity is sometimes used in reference to Galilean invariance....
on 2 June 1915.
During 1920 Dr. Archenhold bought a fisherman's house with adobe walls and wooden cladding in the Baltic village of Bansin.
When the long summer nights reduced his observation time F. S. Archenhold would take his family to his summer house in Bansin
Bansin
Bansin forms the westernmost part of the seaside resort town of Heringsdorf in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany, on the north coast of the island of Usedom, about five miles by rail northwest of Świnoujście. Bansin has, in the past, been one of the most popular resorts on the German Baltic...
. Here he worked on the magazines and papers that he published at the observatory.
By 1938 the Nazi party confiscated the home from the family. When the Russians defeated the Nazis the property was used by the community. The Observatory was named after Archenhold in 1946. Archenhold Sternwarte (Archenhold Observatory)
The Archenhold family had no right to recover any of the 125 acres of land or house until the fall of the Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin...
in 1989. His summer house on Seestrasse, 63 is still standing, but it is in very poor condition. The old house in Bansin is now owned by the grand daughter of Dr. Archenhold.
After runification of Germany the Archenhold Observatory became part of the Deutsches Technikmuseum.