Ludwig O. Struve (1858-1920): The beginning of positional astronomy in the Kharkiv Astronomical Observatory

Heading: 
Research in the History of Astronomy
Balyshev, M
Kinemat. fiz. nebesnyh tel (Online) 2021, 37(5):74-82
https://doi.org/10.15407/kfnt2021.05.074
Start Page: Research in the History of Astronomy
Language: Ukrainian
Abstract: 

The study was considered the research work of Prof. Ludwig Struve, a representative of the world-famous scientific dynasty Struve. His work belonged to the traditional for the Struve dynasty section of positional astronomy — astrometry. Ludwig Struve's work on the study of Lunar eclipses and binary stars (in particular, the systems η Cassiopeia and Procyon), their own motions and the determination of positions, — were distinguished by high scrupulously methodical processing. It was revealed that the most important Struve's work in which he was one of the first astronomers who calculate the speed of rotation of the Milky Way, refined the constant of precession and determined the coordinates of the apex of the Sun's way. At the Kharkiv Astronomical Observatory, Prof. Struve worked on determining the positions of reference stars for the 433 Eros, performed long-term observations of circumpolar stars, took part in the compiling a catalogue of 779 zodiacal stars. In 1914 under his leadership an expedition of Kharkiv astronomers to observe a total Solar eclipse was organized. Ludwig Struve's works have twice been awarded the prize of the Russian Astronomical Society.

Keywords: apex of the Sun's way, astrometry, constant of precession, galaxy rotation, Kharkiv Astronomical Observatory, Ludwig Struve, Procyon

Full text (PDF)

References: 

1. 200 Years of Astronomy in Kharkiv University, Ed. by Yu. G. Shkuratov (Khark. Nats. Univ. im. V. N. Karazina, Kharkiv, 2008) [in Russian].

2. Yu. V. Aleksandrov, V. N. Dudinov, and V. A. Zakhozhai. Astronomy in Kharkiv University, Visn. Astron. Shk. 3 (2), 5–25 (2002).
https://doi.org/10.18372/2411-6602.03.2005

3. M. A. Balyshev. Lyudvig Ottonovich Struve. Historian’s notes, Univ. Nauka Prosveshchenie, No. 1, 34–43 (2007).

4. M. A. Balishev. Development of astronomy in Kharkov in the early twentieth century (1900–1917), Dosl. Istor. Filos. Nauki Tekh. 30 (1), 51–61 (2021).

5. V. A. Zakhozhai. Astrophysical and stellar astronomical studies, in 200 Years of Astronomy in Kharkiv University, Ed. by Yu. G. Shkuratov (Khark. Nats. Univ. im. V. N. Karazina, Kharkiv, 2008), pp. 380–384 [in Russian].

6. L. O. Struve. Essay on pedagogical and scientific activities, 1858–1920, in Notes of the Mathematical Cabinet at M. V. Frunse Crimea University, Ed. by N. M. Krylov (1-ya Sov. Tipografiya, Simferopol, 1921), pp. 33–39.

7. L. O. Struve. On the newly discovered satellite of Procyon, Izv. Russ. Astron. O-va. 6 (3), 108–116 (1897).

8. L. O. Struve and N. N. Evdokimov. A brief report of the expedition to observe a total solar eclipse on August 8/21, 1914, in Notes of the Imperial Kharkov University (M. Zil’berberg i Synov’ya, Kharkov, 1915), pp. 1–4.

9. T. G. Artemenko, M. A. Balyshev, and I. B. Vavilova. The Struve dynasty in the history of astronomy in Ukraine, Kinematics Phys. Celestial Bodies 25, 153–167 (2009).
https://doi.org/10.3103/S0884591309030040

10. A. Downing. Herr L. Struve’s determination of the value of the constant of precession and of the proper motion of the Solar System, Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 49, 220–221 (1889).

11. J. Liebert, G. Fontaine, P. Young, K. Williams, and D. Arnett. The age and stellar parameters of the Procyon binary system, Astrophys. J. 769 (1) (2013).
https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/769/1/7

12. S. Newcomb, The Elements of the Four Inner Planets and the Fundamental Constants of Astronomy (Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1895).
https://doi.org/10.1086/102176

13. L. Struve. Beobachtung der Mondfinsternisse 1898 Juli 3 auf der Universitatssternwarte zu Charkow, Astron. Nachr. 147, 323–328 (1898).
https://doi.org/10.1002/asna.18981472003

14. L. Struve, Bearbeitung der von W. Struve am Dollond’schen Durchgangsinstrument der Dorpater Sternwarte während der Jahre 1818 bis 1822 angestellten Beobachtungen (Druck von C. Mattiesen, Dorpat, 1910), in Ser.: Publikationen der Kaiserlichen Universitates-Sternwarte Jurjew, Vol. 22.

15. L. Struve, Bearbeitung der während der totalen Mondfinsternisse 1884 October 4 und 1888 Januar 28 beobachteten Sternbedeckungen (Druck von C. Mattiesen, Dorpat, 1893), pp. 1–39.
https://doi.org/10.1002/asna.18941351002

16. L. Struve. Beobachtung der totalen Mondfinsternis vom 16, November 1910 auf Sternwarte in Charkow, Astron. Nachr. 186, 329–331 (1911).
https://doi.org/10.1002/asna.19101862003

17. L. Struve. Bestimmung der Constante der Praecession und der eigenen Bewegung des Sonnensystems, Doctoral Dissertation in Astronomy; Mem. Acad. Imp. Sci. St.-Petersbourg 35 (1887).

18. L. Struve. Bestimmung des Mondhalbmessers aus den während der totalen Mondfinsternisse 1884 Okt. 4 und 1888 Jan. 28 beobachteten Sternbedeckungen, Astron. Nachr. 135, 169–176 (1894).
https://doi.org/10.1002/asna.18941351002

19. L. Struve. Reducirte Beobachtungen am Meridiankreise von Zonensternen und Mittlere Oerter derselben fur 1875,0, in Beobachtungen der Kaiserlichen Universitats Sternwarte Dorpat, Vol. 18 (Druck von C. Mattiesen, Dorpat, 1891), pp. 125–169.

20. L. Struve. Resultate aus den in Pulkowa angestellten Vergleichungen von Procyon mit benachbarten Sternen, Mem. Acad. Imp. Sci. St.-Petersbourg 31 (2), 1–48 (1883).

21. L. Struve. Ueber die Constante der Praecession und die eigene Bewegung der Sonne, Astron. Nachr. 156, 129–148 (1901).
https://doi.org/10.1002/asna.19011560902

22. L. Struve. Ueber die unregelmassige Eigenbewegung von Procyon nach O. Struve’s Mikrometermessungen, Astron. Nachr. 130, 177–186 (1892).
https://doi.org/10.1002/asna.18921301103

23. L. Struve. Vorausberechnung des Cometen 1884 III (Wolf), Astron. Nachr. 127, 45–46 (1891).
https://doi.org/10.1002/asna.18911270212

24. L. Struve. Zur Bestimmung der Praecessionsconstante und der eigenen Bewegung des Sonnensystems, Astron. Nachr. 159, 377–384 (1902).
https://doi.org/10.1002/asna.19021592402

25. P. A. Thraen. Definitive Bahnbestimmung des Cometen 1884 III (Wolf), Astron. Nachr. 117, 65–98 (1887).
https://doi.org/10.1002/asna.18871170502

26. I. B. Vavilova, T. G. Artemenko, and L. K. Pakuliak. Biographical index “Astronomers of Ukraine at the UkrVO portal, Kinematics Phys. Celestial Bodies 30, 46–52 (2014).


https://doi.org/10.3103/S0884591314010073