Cuno Hoffmeister | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1892-02-02)2 February 1892 |
| Died | 2 January 1968(1968-01-02) (aged 75) Sonneberg,East Germany |
| Alma mater | University of Jena |
| Known for | Variable stars |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astronomy |
| Institutions | Sonneberg Observatory Remeis Observatory |
Cuno Hoffmeister (2 February 1892 – 2 January 1968) was a Germanastronomer, observer and discoverer ofvariable stars,comets andminor planets, and founder ofSonneberg Observatory.[1][2][3]
Born inSonneberg in 1892 to Carl and Marie Hoffmeister, Cuno Hoffmeister obtained his first telescope in 1905 and became an avidamateur astronomer. After his father lost most of his money in 1914, Hoffmeister had to leave school in 1916 to start an apprenticeship in his father's company. During this time he continued to study spherical mathematics and trigonometry. In April 1915 he had the opportunity to substitute as the assistant of Ernst Hartwig atRemeis Observatory in Bamberg while the current holder of the position was drafted, mainly working on observations of meteors andvariable stars. He held this position until the end of the war and then moved back to Sonneberg, where he made hisAbitur in 1920.[1]
After studying at theUniversity of Jena, while at the same time continuing to work in his job as a tradesman, Hoffmeister obtained his doctorate in 1927. During this time he had already started building what was to become Sonneberg Observatory. After his PhD, he moved back to Sonneberg and started expanding the observatory. Hoffmeister remained at the observatory until his death, even though the observatory lost most of its equipment afterWorld War II and he was disowned as the observatory became part of East Germany's academy of sciences. Hoffmeister served as the director of the observatory until his death. During his life he played a leading role in supporting amateurs in observations of noctilucent clouds, aurorae, and nightglow.[1]
| 2183 Neufang | 26 July 1959 |
| 3203 Huth | 18 September 1938 |
| 3674 Erbisbühl | 13 September 1963 |
| 4183 Cuno | 5 June 1959 |
| 4724 Brocken | 18 January 1961 |
During his active life as an astronomer, Hoffmeister discovered approximately 10,000variable stars on the more than 100,000photographic plates taken at Sonneberg Observatory. TheMinor Planet Center credits him with the discovery of 5 asteroids between 1938 and 1963.[4] He also co-discoveredC/1959 O1, ahyperbolic comet, in 1959.[5]
The lunar craterHoffmeister and the two minor planets1726 Hoffmeister and4183 Cuno were named in his honor (M.P.C. 3933 and 18307).[2][3][6] Also Hoffmeister's star in Cassiopeia (V442 = Sonneberg 9484) and Hoffmeister's cloud at 20h47m/-42°.[7]
