Theodor von Oppolzer | |
|---|---|
Kroh_Carl_btv1b84529643_(cropped).jpg) Theodor von Oppolzer | |
| Born | 26 October 1841 |
| Died | 26 December 1886 (1886-12-27) (aged 45) |
| Alma mater | University of Vienna |
| Spouse | Coelestine Mautner von Markhof |
| Children | 6 |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | astronomer andmathematician |
Theodor von Oppolzer (26 October 1841 – 26 December 1886) was anAustrianastronomer andmathematician ofBohemian origin.[1][2]
The son of thephysicianJohann Ritter von Oppolzer, Theodor was born inPrague. He completed his graduate studies inmedicine at theUniversity of Vienna, gaining aPh.D. in 1865. He also owned a private observatory. He began teaching theoretical astronomy and geodesics at the University of Vienna in 1866. By 1875 he was appointed a professor. In 1873 he became the director of the Austrian Geodetic Survey, and in 1886 he was elected vice president of theInternational Geodetic Association.
He was considered a highly capable astronomer and mathematician. For example, he was reputed to have memorized the values of 14,000logarithms. In 1868 he led an expedition to observe asolar eclipse. Afterward (1887) he authored theCanon der Finsternisse, an authoritative compilation of the 8,000 solar and 5,200 lunar eclipses from 1,200 B.C. until 2,161 A.D.[3] This was widely recognized as one of the greatest computational feats of its day.
Oppolzer authored over 300 papers, with most concerning the orbital elements ofcomets andasteroids. He also published a two-volume manual on the determination of the orbital elements of comets and planets.[4] Both of his works served as standard astronomy references for many years.
He was working on an improved theory of lunar motion at the time of his death. His sonEgon von Oppolzer also became a distinguished astronomer. He startet to build theHistoric Observatory of the University of Innsbruck.
