Hermann Mucke (astronomer)

Hermann B. W. Mucke (March 1, 1935 – March 12, 2019) was an Austrian astronomer and one of the most significant promoters of amateur astronomy in German-speaking Europe. He was born and died in Vienna.

Career

Mucke studied physics at the

Urania

educational observatory.

On occasion of his retirement from both positions in 2000, the asteroid

7074 Muckea was named in honor of Hermann Mucke. In the preceding months the solar eclipse of August 11, 1999

had further heightened his popularity, the media referring to him as Mister Sonne ("Mr. Sun").

Mucke's most significant scientific achievements were in

comets, and published a catalog of comet orbital elements.^[3]

Although technically in retirement, Mucke continued to embark on new projects. Taking up a concept of his teacher Thomas, he designed and established a public celestial observation post with various multimedia enhancements (the Sternengarten) close to the Wotruba Church at the Georgenberg, a hilltop in Liesing on the Southwestern outskirts of Vienna. He continued to manage the Astronomical Bureau and to edit the Sternenbote, a monthly scientific periodical for German-speaking amateur astronomers which Mucke had founded in 1957.

References

^ H. Mucke, J. Meeus: Canon of Solar Eclipses –2003 to +2526, Astronomisches Büro Wien, 2nd ed., 1983
^ J. Meeus, H. Mucke: Canon of Lunar Eclipses -2002 to +2526, Astronomisches Büro Wien, 3rd ed., 1992
^ H. Mucke: Helle Kometen von -86 bis +1950, Astronomisches Büro Wien, 2nd ed., 1976

[1] H. Mucke, J. Meeus: Canon of Solar Eclipses –2003 to +2526, Astronomisches Büro Wien, 2nd ed., 1983

[2] J. Meeus, H. Mucke: Canon of Lunar Eclipses -2002 to +2526, Astronomisches Büro Wien, 3rd ed., 1992

[3] H. Mucke: Helle Kometen von -86 bis +1950, Astronomisches Büro Wien, 2nd ed., 1976

[3]

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