Johann Friedrich Julius Schmidt
Encyclopedia
Johann Friedrich Julius Schmidt (25 October 1825 in Eutin
, Germany
– 7 February 1884 in Athens
, Greece
) was a German
astronomer
and geophysicist.
in Hamburg
, he impressed with his sense of form and drawing abilities and demonstrated a strong interest in science. When he was 14, he came into the possession of a copy of Selenotopographische Fragmente by Johann Hieronymus Schröter, and this influenced a lifelong interest in selenography, the study of the Moon
. He went to school in Hamburg
and visited Altona Observatory, where he became acquainted with the well-known map of the Moon made by Wilhelm Beer and Johann Heinrich Mädler.
Rümker
taught him the fundamentals of astronomical observation (1842–1845). In 1845, he obtained a position as an assistant at the private Benzenberg observatory in Bilk near Düsseldorf
, but a year later joined the Bonn Observatory under Friedrich Wilhelm Argelander
. In 1853 he became director of Baron von Unkrechtsberg's private observatory at Olmütz (today Olomouc
, Czech Republic
). In 1858, he became director of the new Athens Observatory, where the clear skies were very suited to astronomical observation, and where he spent the rest of his career.
He spent most of his career since his youth making drawings of the Moon, preparing a map of it. In 1866 he made the astonishing claim that Linné crater
had considerably changed its appearance, which began a controversy that continued for many decades. Coming from such a careful lifelong observer, the claim carried some weight; however, the claim is generally considered unproven.
By 1868 his map of the Moon was almost ready, although he did not put the finishing touches to it until 1874. This was the first map of the Moon to surpass the celebrated map of Beer and Mädler.
On 24 November 1876 he discovered Nova Cygni, also known as Q Cygni.
In 1878, Schmidt also edited and published all 25 sections of a moon map by Wilhelm Gotthelf Lohrmann
. Lohrmann had completed his map in 1836 but had died in 1840; only the first four sections of the map had been published in 1824.
He also studied vulcanism
and seismic phenomena on Earth,
sometimes at the risk of his life. He was a pioneer in using the anaeroid barometer
for measuring altitude. He published a work on the physical
geography of Greece. Other interests were the physical nature of comet
s and the brightness and periodicity of stars.
He received an honorary doctorate from Bonn in 1868. When he died, the King and Queen of Greece attended the funeral oration at his observatory.
on the Moon
is jointly named for him and two other people of the same last name.
Eutin
Eutin is the district capital of Eastern Holstein located in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein. As of 2005, it had some 17,000 inhabitants....
, Germany
German Confederation
The German Confederation was the loose association of Central European states created by the Congress of Vienna in 1815 to coordinate the economies of separate German-speaking countries. It acted as a buffer between the powerful states of Austria and Prussia...
– 7 February 1884 in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece
Kingdom of Greece
The Kingdom of Greece was a state established in 1832 in the Convention of London by the Great Powers...
) was a German
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...
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...
and geophysicist.
Biography
As a student at a gymnasiumGymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, he impressed with his sense of form and drawing abilities and demonstrated a strong interest in science. When he was 14, he came into the possession of a copy of Selenotopographische Fragmente by Johann Hieronymus Schröter, and this influenced a lifelong interest in selenography, the study of the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
. He went to school in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
and visited Altona Observatory, where he became acquainted with the well-known map of the Moon made by Wilhelm Beer and Johann Heinrich Mädler.
Rümker
Carl Ludwig Christian Rümker
Carl Ludwig Christian Rümker was a German astronomer. In German, his name is spelt Karl Ludwig Christian Rümker; he was also known as Charles Rümker, Charles Rumker, Charles Luis Rumker, Christian Carl Ludwig Rümker and Dr...
taught him the fundamentals of astronomical observation (1842–1845). In 1845, he obtained a position as an assistant at the private Benzenberg observatory in Bilk near Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
, but a year later joined the Bonn Observatory under Friedrich Wilhelm Argelander
Friedrich Wilhelm Argelander
Friedrich Wilhelm August Argelander was a German astronomer. He is known for his determinations of stellar brightnesses, positions, and distances.- Life and work :...
. In 1853 he became director of Baron von Unkrechtsberg's private observatory at Olmütz (today Olomouc
Olomouc
Olomouc is a city in Moravia, in the east of the Czech Republic. The city is located on the Morava river and is the ecclesiastical metropolis and historical capital city of Moravia. Nowadays, it is an administrative centre of the Olomouc Region and sixth largest city in the Czech Republic...
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
). In 1858, he became director of the new Athens Observatory, where the clear skies were very suited to astronomical observation, and where he spent the rest of his career.
He spent most of his career since his youth making drawings of the Moon, preparing a map of it. In 1866 he made the astonishing claim that Linné crater
Linné (crater)
Linné is a small lunar impact crater located in the western Mare Serenitatis. The mare around this feature is virtually devoid of other features of interest. The nearest named crater is Banting to the east-southeast....
had considerably changed its appearance, which began a controversy that continued for many decades. Coming from such a careful lifelong observer, the claim carried some weight; however, the claim is generally considered unproven.
By 1868 his map of the Moon was almost ready, although he did not put the finishing touches to it until 1874. This was the first map of the Moon to surpass the celebrated map of Beer and Mädler.
On 24 November 1876 he discovered Nova Cygni, also known as Q Cygni.
In 1878, Schmidt also edited and published all 25 sections of a moon map by Wilhelm Gotthelf Lohrmann
Wilhelm Gotthelf Lohrmann
Wilhelm Gotthelf Lohrmann was a Saxon cartographer, astronomer, meteorologist and patron of the sciences....
. Lohrmann had completed his map in 1836 but had died in 1840; only the first four sections of the map had been published in 1824.
He also studied vulcanism
Vulcanism
Vulcanism may refer to* Volcanism or volcanic activity.* Plutonism, a scientific theory of the Earth....
and seismic phenomena on Earth,
sometimes at the risk of his life. He was a pioneer in using the anaeroid barometer
Barometer
A barometer is a scientific instrument used in meteorology to measure atmospheric pressure. Pressure tendency can forecast short term changes in the weather...
for measuring altitude. He published a work on the physical
geography of Greece. Other interests were the physical nature of comet
Comet
A comet is an icy small Solar System body that, when close enough to the Sun, displays a visible coma and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena are both due to the effects of solar radiation and the solar wind upon the nucleus of the comet...
s and the brightness and periodicity of stars.
He received an honorary doctorate from Bonn in 1868. When he died, the King and Queen of Greece attended the funeral oration at his observatory.
Legacy
The crater SchmidtSchmidt (lunar crater)
Schmidt is a small lunar impact crater that is located near the southwest edge of Mare Tranquillitatis, to the southwest of the Ritter–Sabine crater pair. This formation is circular and bowl-shaped, with little appearance of wear due to subsequent impacts. The interior has a higher albedo than the...
on the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
is jointly named for him and two other people of the same last name.
External links
- The years of Julius Schmidt in the Athens Observatory from the National Observatory of Athens