Wilhelm Gliese (German pronunciation: [ˈɡliːzə], English GLEE-zə; 21 June 1915 – 12 June 1993) was a German astronomer who specialized in the study and cataloging of nearby stars.
Wilhelm Gliese | |
|---|---|
| Born | 21 June 1915 |
| Died | 12 June 1993 (aged 77) |
| Alma mater | University of Berlin |
| Known for | Gliese Catalogue of Nearby Stars |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | astronomy |
| Institutions | Astronomisches Rechen-Institut |
| Doctoral advisor | August Kopff |
Life
editGliese was born in Goldberg, now in Polish Silesia, the son of judge Wilhelm Gliese. He worked at the Astronomisches Rechen-Institut, first in Berlin and then in Heidelberg. While a student he was encouraged by the Dutch astronomer Peter van de Kamp to study nearby stars, which he did for the rest of his life.
His astronomical research was interrupted during World War II when he was conscripted into the German Wehrmacht in 1942 and sent to the Eastern Front. In 1945, he was taken prisoner by the Soviets and was not released until 1949. He finally resumed his research at the Institute, which had been moved by the U.S. Army to Heidelberg after the war. Although he nominally retired in 1980, he continued his research at the Institute until his death in 1993.[1]
Catalogs of nearby stars
editHe is best known for his Catalogue of Nearby Stars, originally published in 1957[2] and again in 1969.[3] Some stars are primarily known by the catalog number he gave them, such as Gliese 581 and Gliese 710. The Gliese catalog stars are frequent targets of study due to their proximity to Earth, as suggested by their high proper motion. Gliese published two supplements to this catalog in 1979[4] and 1991[5] in collaboration with Hartmut Jahreiß. Jahreiß wrote Gliese's obituary upon his death in 1993.[1]
Honors
editThe asteroid 1823 Gliese, discovered by astronomer Karl Reinmuth in 1951, was named after Wilhelm Gliese.
References
edit- ^ a b Hartmut Jahreiß (1994). "Nachrufe : Wilhelm Gliese". Mitteilungen der Astronomischen Gesellschaft (in German). 77: 5–7.
- ^ Gliese, W. (1957). "Katalog der Sterne näher ALS 20 Parsek für 1950.0". Astronomisches Rechen-Institut Heidelberg Mitteilungen Serie A (in German). 8. Astronomisches Rechen-Institut, Heidelberg, 89 Seiten: 1. Bibcode:1957MiABA...8....1G.
- ^ Gliese, W. (1969). "Catalogue of Nearby Stars. Edition 1969". Veröffentlichungen des Astronomischen Rechen-Instituts Heidelberg, Nr. 22, Verlag G. Braun, Karlsruhe, 117 Seiten. 22: 1. Bibcode:1969VeARI..22....1G.
- ^ Gliese, W.; Jahreiß, H. (1979). "Nearby Star Data Published 1969-1978". Astronomy & Astrophysics Supplement Series. 38: 423–448. Bibcode:1979A&AS...38..423G.
- ^ Gliese, W.; Jahreiß, H. (1991). L.E. Brotzmann; S.E. Gesser (eds.). Preliminary Version of the Third Catalogue of Nearby Stars. Astronomisches Rechen-Institut. Bibcode:1991adc..rept.....G.
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External links
edit- Gliese catalog at Heidelberg University
- MitAG 77 (1994) 5–7 (Obituary in German)