Gottfried Kirch | |
|---|---|
 Gottfried Kirch | |
| Born | (1639-12-18)18 December 1639 |
| Died | 25 July 1710(1710-07-25) (aged 70) Berlin,Kingdom of Prussia, Holy Roman Empire |
| Other names | Kirche |
| Known for | First 'Astronomer Royal' in Berlin |
| Spouse | Maria Margaretha Winkelmann |
| Children | Christfried Kirch |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astronomy |
| Institutions | Berlin Observatory |
| Academic advisors | Erhard Weigel |
Gottfried Kirch (German:[ˈkɪʁç]; alsoKirche[1][ˈkɪʁçə],Kirkius;[1] 18 December 1639 – 25 July 1710) was a Germanastronomer and the first "Astronomer Royal" in Berlin and, as such, director of the nascentBerlin Observatory.
The son of Michael Kirch,[2] ashoemaker inGuben, initially he worked as a schoolmaster inLanggrün andNeundorf nearLobenstein. He also worked as acalendar-maker in Saxonia andFranconia. He began to learn astronomy withErhard Weigel inJena, and withHevelius inDanzig. In Danzig in 1667, Kirch published calendars and built severaltelescopes and instruments. In 1679 he invented ascrew micrometer for astronomical measurements. He became an astronomer working inCoburg,Leipzig and Guben as well from 1700 inBerlin.
In the last quarter of the 17th century, Kirch was the most-read calendar maker and counted as one of the leading Germans. In 1680 he discovered acomet with atelescope for the first time:Komet C/1680 V1, called Kirch's comet. In 1681 he discovered theWild Duck Cluster M 11. In 1686 he went to Leipzig. Together with the farmer and astronomerChristoph Arnold he observed the comets of that year. In the same year he discovered theMira variableχ Cygni. He also dedicated much time to observing thedouble starMizar. He introduced three newconstellations, the "Globus cruciger" ("Reichsapfel"), the "Electoral Sword" ("Kurfürstliches Schwert") and theSceptre of Brandenburg, which however were not recognized and adopted by theInternational Astronomical Union (IAU).[3] Via Arnold he met his second wifeMaria Margaretha Winkelmann (1670–1720), who had learnt astronomy from self-study and from Arnold. While jointly observing the comet of 1702, they discovered the globular clusterM 5 (5 May 1702). In 1699, he had observed comet55P/Tempel-Tuttle but this observation was not recognized until later analysis byJoachim Schubart.[4]
For a long period, he was unable to find employment, so he had to earn his living through the publication ofAlmanacs/ Calendars. He was assisted in the calculations by his second wife and their children. A few series of almanacs appeared across several decades. For a time, he published up to 13 almanacs a year, a few appearing under pseudonyms, and he also continued established almanacs from other authors under their name. As examples could be citedChristian-, Jewish- und Turkish-Almanac, theGipsy-Almanac theSibylla Ptolemaein, a Gipsywoman from Alexandria in Egypten, theAstronomischen Wunder-Kalender, theWahrhaftigen Himmels-Boten, theGespenster- und Haushaltungs-Kalender byJohann Friedrich von Rosenfeld / Der Astronomiae Ergebener and from 1700 the various Academy Almanacs as "Astronomer Royal" in Berlin.
It is only recently that the importance of the Kirch's Almanacs has been recognized for the distribution of ideas of theEnlightenment andPietism to the wider population. The functions of almanacs are Information, Education and Discussion. Kirch's Calendars are noted additionally for the announcement of both his own results as well as results from abroad. A few almanacs anticipate theAstronomisches Jahrbuch. Further aspects are the transmission of new ideas to ordinary people in conjunction with a growing distancing from astrological superstition and criticisms of orthodox beliefs. The accompaniment to all almanacsZugaben / Oder Astrologisches Bedencken / von dem Lauff und der Wirckung des Gestirnten Himmels / ... (example from the Zigeuner-Kalender) had been demanded by the publishers, as otherwise the almanacs did not sell well. Astrological ideas were still not fully overcome at this time, but he attacked the practice of astrological forecasting and the mendacity of many almanac makers of his time as being a sin against God, especially prophecies regarding war and peace.
Beginning in 1675 he pursued the idea of founding anAstronomical Society in Germany. It was to be open to all astronomers independent of nationality or religious persuasion. He promoted the idea that all astronomers should send their observations to a central location where they could be published as soon as possible. He consideredFrankfurt am Main to be the ideal location, for one because of the Messe (fair) and on the other hand because of its easy connection to the Netherlands via the Rivers Main and Rhine. The planned society should also serve to coordinate the observing of astronomical events such as eclipses and transits of planets. In particular he organized observations of thetransit of Mercury on 31 October or 1 November 1690 in quasi-military fashion. However he appears to have made no concrete steps to set up such a society.
Then in 1700 he was appointed the first astronomer of theRoyal Society of Sciences ("Kurfürstlich-Brandenburgische Societät der Wissenschaften") in Berlin on 10 May byPrince-elector Friedrich III. of Brandenburg (from 1701:King Friedrich I. of Prussia). The founding of the associatedBerlin Observatory was a reaction to the new national observatories inGreenwich,Paris andSt. Petersburg. To finance the academy, the Prince-Elector conferred the "Kalenderpatent" on it (a monopoly on publishing almanacs). Kirch and his wife were therefore obliged to finance the academy by their almanac calculations.
After his death, his wife continued the almanac calculations. His sonChristfried Kirch became director of the Observatory in 1716. When Prussia incorporated the new province ofSilesia in the 1740s, a further almanac was needed to be drawn up for the Catholics, and for that issue the academy employed his daughterChristine Kirch (1696–1782). After 1700, two calendar variants were in force in theHoly Roman Empire: theGregorian Calendar in the catholic, theVerbesserter Reichskalender (improved Reich calendar) in the Protestant regions, however the latter differed from the former solely in respect of calculation of thedate of Easter.
The craterKirch on theMoon and theasteroid6841 Gottfriedkirch are named after him.
Kirch studied the double starMizar.
He died inBerlin at the age of seventy.
Kirch also published his calendar,Philosophical Transactions, anActa Eruditorum andMiscellanea Berolinensia.
