Gotha Observatory
Encyclopedia
Gotha Observatory was a German astronomical observatory located on Seeberg hill near Gotha
, Thuringia
, Germany
. Initially the observatory was dedicated to astrometry
, geodetic and meteorological observation and tracking the time.
The minor planet 1346 Gotha
was named after the city of Gotha in recognition of the observatory.
in Oxford
, England
. The building was divided into five parts, with the central section holding a revolving dome. There were two wings to provide quarters for the staff.
During Hansen's term, the observatory was dismantled and moved to a less exposed location in Gotha. The observatory was closed in 1934.
, a two foot transit instrument
, three Hadley
sextant
s, and achromat
heliometer
, a two foot achromat refractor, a Gregory reflector and many clocks.
By the start of the nineteenth century improved instrumentation was acquired: consisting of a theodolite, a different heliometer, new mounting, and three foot meridian circle. No spectroscopy
or photography
was performed at the observatory and the only astrophysical equipment of the observatory was a Zöllner photometer
.
Gotha (town)
Gotha is a town in Thuringia, within the central core of Germany. It is the capital of the district of Gotha.- History :The town has existed at least since the 8th century, when it was mentioned in a document signed by Charlemagne as Villa Gotaha . Its importance derives from having been chosen in...
, Thuringia
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Initially the observatory was dedicated to astrometry
Astrometry
Astrometry is the branch of astronomy that involves precise measurements of the positions and movements of stars and other celestial bodies. The information obtained by astrometric measurements provides information on the kinematics and physical origin of our Solar System and our Galaxy, the Milky...
, geodetic and meteorological observation and tracking the time.
The minor planet 1346 Gotha
1346 Gotha
1346 Gotha is a main-belt asteroid discovered on February 5, 1929 by Reinmuth, K. at Heidelberg.- External links :*...
was named after the city of Gotha in recognition of the observatory.
History
Planning for the observatory began in 1787 by the court astronomer Baron Franz Xaver von Zach, with the financing of Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg. It was based upon the Radcliffe ObservatoryRadcliffe Observatory
Radcliffe Observatory was the astronomical observatory of Oxford University from 1773 until 1934, when the Radcliffe Trustees sold it and erected a new observatory in Pretoria, South Africa. It is a grade I listed building.- History :...
in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The building was divided into five parts, with the central section holding a revolving dome. There were two wings to provide quarters for the staff.
During Hansen's term, the observatory was dismantled and moved to a less exposed location in Gotha. The observatory was closed in 1934.
Instruments
Around 1800, the observatory became an international center for astronomy, being the most modern astronomical institute primarily for its instruments. The instruments came from London, England, the standard place to acquire them in the 18th century. These included an eighteen inch quadrantQuadrant (instrument)
A quadrant is an instrument that is used to measure angles up to 90°. It was originally proposed by Ptolemy as a better kind of astrolabe. Several different variations of the instrument were later produced by medieval Muslim astronomers.-Types of quadrants:...
, a two foot transit instrument
Transit instrument
In astronomy, transit instruments are used for the precise observation of star positions. The instruments can be divided into three groups:- Meridian instruments :for observation of star transits in the exact direction of South or North:...
, three Hadley
John Hadley
John Hadley was an English mathematician, inventor of the octant, a precursor to the sextant, around 1730.He was born in Bloomsbury, London, to Katherine FitzJames and George Hadley....
sextant
Sextant
A sextant is an instrument used to measure the angle between any two visible objects. Its primary use is to determine the angle between a celestial object and the horizon which is known as the altitude. Making this measurement is known as sighting the object, shooting the object, or taking a sight...
s, and achromat
Achromatic lens
An achromatic lens or achromat is a lens that is designed to limit the effects of chromatic and spherical aberration. Achromatic lenses are corrected to bring two wavelengths into focus in the same plane....
heliometer
Heliometer
Heliometer is an instrument originally designed for measuring the variation of the sun's diameter at different seasons of the year, but applied now to the modern form of the instrument which is capable of much wider use....
, a two foot achromat refractor, a Gregory reflector and many clocks.
By the start of the nineteenth century improved instrumentation was acquired: consisting of a theodolite, a different heliometer, new mounting, and three foot meridian circle. No spectroscopy
Spectroscopy
Spectroscopy is the study of the interaction between matter and radiated energy. Historically, spectroscopy originated through the study of visible light dispersed according to its wavelength, e.g., by a prism. Later the concept was expanded greatly to comprise any interaction with radiative...
or photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
was performed at the observatory and the only astrophysical equipment of the observatory was a Zöllner photometer
Photometer
In its widest sense, a photometer is an instrument for measuring light intensity or optical properties of solutions or surfaces. Photometers are used to measure:*Illuminance*Irradiance*Light absorption*Scattering of light*Reflection of light*Fluorescence...
.
Directors
The observatory directors were as follows:- Franz Xaver von Zach, 1787–1802
- Bernard von Lindenau, 1802 - ?
- Johann Franz EnckeJohann Franz EnckeJohann Franz Encke was a German astronomer. Among his activities, he worked on the calculation of the periods of comets and asteroids, measured the distance from the earth to the sun, and made observations on the planet Saturn.-Biography:Encke was born in Hamburg, where his father was a...
, 1822–1825 - Peter Andreas Hansen 1825 - 1876
- Charles Nicolaus Adalbert Krueger 1876 - ?
- Hugo von Seeliger, 1881