Hevelius is arguably the best and most productive observationa l astronomer of the 17th century. Despite not being a “professional” scient ist he made several important discoveries using for the most part self-made equipment in his home observatory which was the best equipped in the world at the time – pre-dating both Greenwich and Paris Observatories by at leas t two decades. Hevelius founded the branch of science now known as “selenog raphy” – the mapping and study of the Moon’s surface features.
His re markable second wife Catherina Elisabetha Koopmann who became his faithful skilful assistant, is probably the earliest known female astronomer – preda ting Caroline Herschel by over a century. Catherina directly contributed to his observations then collated, edited and published his two largest works after Hevelius’ death in 1687.
is a longtime member of S ASI and is a past President of our society. He is a prolific recorder and d ocumenter of all things astronomical in the celestial sphere and shares his passion for them regularly on the SASI forum website. He has contributed m any written articles to the American Sky and Telescope magazine as well as the Australian version of Sky and Telescope.
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Hevelius is arguably the best and most productive observationa l astronomer of the 17th century. Despite not being a “professional” scient ist he made several important discoveries using for the most part self-made equipment in his home observatory which was the best equipped in the world at the time – pre-dating both Greenwich and Paris Observatories by at leas t two decades. Hevelius founded the branch of science now known as “selenog raphy” – the mapping and study of the Moon’s surface features.
His re markable second wife Catherina Elisabetha Koopmann who became his faithful skilful assistant, is probably the earliest known female astronomer – preda ting Caroline Herschel by over a century. Catherina directly contributed to his observations then collated, edited and published his two largest works after Hevelius’ death in 1687.
i s a longtime member of SASI and is a past President of our society. He is a prolific recorder and documenter of all things astronomical in the celesti al sphere and shares his passion for them regularly on the SASI forum websi te. He has contributed many written articles to the American Sky and Telesc ope magazine as well as the Australian version of Sky and Telescope.
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