Philipp Johann Heinrich Fauth
Encyclopedia
Philipp Johann Heinrich Fauth (March 19, 1867 — January 4, 1941) was a German
selenographer
. Born in Bad Dürkheim
, he worked as a schoolteacher. As an amateur astronomer
, he studied the formations on the Moon
with great intensity and meticulousness. He compiled an extensive atlas
of the moon between 1884 and 1940 (which was not completely published until 1964, and prized today as a rare book). His Unser Mond was published in Bremen in 1936.
Working from an observatory
in Landstuhl
, Fauth represented the moon in twenty-four sectors. Unfortunately, Fauth carried out this immense work at the same time that advances were being made in photography
that allowed for a more reliable depiction of the lunar surface.
In 1913 with co-author Hans Hoerbiger, he published his now-defunct Cosmic Ice (Glacial Kosmogonie
) Theory which was subsequently investigated by Hans Schindler Bellamy
.
In 1939, Heinrich Himmler
gave him the title of professor, although Fauth had never taught at a university
and never received a doctorate
.
He died at Grünwald, Bavaria
.
The crater Fauth
on the Moon is named after him.
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...
selenographer
Selenography
Selenography is the study of the surface and physical features of the Moon. Historically, the principal concern of selenographists was the mapping and naming of the lunar maria, craters, mountain ranges, and other various features...
. Born in Bad Dürkheim
Bad Dürkheim
Bad Dürkheim is a spa town in the Rhine-Neckar urban agglomeration, and is the seat of the Bad Dürkheim district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.- Location :...
, he worked as a schoolteacher. As an amateur astronomer
Amateur astronomy
Amateur astronomy, also called backyard astronomy and stargazing, is a hobby whose participants enjoy watching the night sky , and the plethora of objects found in it, mainly with portable telescopes and binoculars...
, he studied the formations 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...
with great intensity and meticulousness. He compiled an extensive atlas
Atlas
An atlas is a collection of maps; it is typically a map of Earth or a region of Earth, but there are atlases of the other planets in the Solar System. Atlases have traditionally been bound into book form, but today many atlases are in multimedia formats...
of the moon between 1884 and 1940 (which was not completely published until 1964, and prized today as a rare book). His Unser Mond was published in Bremen in 1936.
Working from an observatory
Observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...
in Landstuhl
Landstuhl
Landstuhl , literally translating as "country-throne", is a municipality of over 9,000 people in southwestern Germany. It is part of the district of Kaiserslautern, in the Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, and is home to the Sickinger Schloss, a small castle. It is situated on the north-western edge...
, Fauth represented the moon in twenty-four sectors. Unfortunately, Fauth carried out this immense work at the same time that advances were being made in 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...
that allowed for a more reliable depiction of the lunar surface.
In 1913 with co-author Hans Hoerbiger, he published his now-defunct Cosmic Ice (Glacial Kosmogonie
Welteislehre
Welteislehre , also known as Glazial-Kosmogonie is a pseudoscientific cosmological theory proposed by Hans Hörbiger, an Austrian engineer and inventor and respected steam engine designer, whose invention of the Hörbiger valve made him a wealthy man.Hörbiger did not arrive at his theory through...
) Theory which was subsequently investigated by Hans Schindler Bellamy
Hans Schindler Bellamy
Hans Schindler Bellamy was a researcher and author. His books investigate the work of Austrian cosmologist, Hans Hoerbiger and German selenographer, Philipp Fauth, whose now-defunct Cosmic Ice Theory :Bellamy's first book, Moons, Myths and Man, describes Hoerbiger's theory in detail, and its...
.
In 1939, Heinrich Himmler
Heinrich Himmler
Heinrich Luitpold Himmler was Reichsführer of the SS, a military commander, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. As Chief of the German Police and the Minister of the Interior from 1943, Himmler oversaw all internal and external police and security forces, including the Gestapo...
gave him the title of professor, although Fauth had never taught at a university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
and never received a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
.
He died at Grünwald, Bavaria
Grünwald, Bavaria
Grünwald is a municipality in the district of Munich, in Bavaria, Germany. It is located on the right bank of the Isar, 12 km southwest of Munich...
.
The crater Fauth
Fauth (crater)
Fauth is a small double-crater located at the edge of the rough southern ramparts of the prominent ray crater Copernicus on the Moon. It lies in the Mare Imbrium, to the northeast of the crater Reinhold....
on the Moon is named after him.