Q1 Biography: Johannes Hevelius

Johannes Hevelius

            Johannes Hevelius was born in 1611 and died in 1689, thus living for 88 years. During his life he accomplished many things, especially in the field of astronomy. His father was a prosperous merchant in Germany, thus, Hevelius was sent to school. He originally went to Leiden, then studied at Danzig Gymnasium, then a school at Gondeltsch, then back to Danzig Gymnasium, then back to Leiden. On his second time at Leiden, Hevelius studied jurisprudence. On his second time as Danzig Gymnasium, Hevelius studied under Peter Krueger. Krueger saw that Hevelius learned and understood mathematics and astronomy, thus starting Johannes Hevelius on the path to astronomy greatness. Hevelius also worked in the fields with instrument making and engraving. In 1635 he married Katharina Rebesche, and she helped a lot with Hevelius’ astronomical research and observations. Hevelius’ goal in his studies was to create a detailed star catalog, which was no easy thing to do in the 1600s.

In 1640, Hevelius built his first observatory, for astronomical purposes. Inside this observatory Hevelius developed several instruments. One of these instruments includes an experimental pendulum clock. Hevelius tasked a clockmaker, Wolfgang Günther, and an instrument make, unnamed, to develop his two pendulum clock prototypes. Günther worked to develop the prototypes for the clock and multiple other instruments for Hevelius. In 1659, Hevelius presented a small prototype to the Polish king, Johan Kasimir. Unfortunately, the observatory was burned to the ground in 1679.

In 1656, Hevelius calls his colleague, Christaan Huygens, a dear friend and a marvel to astronomy. Hevelius sent many if not all of his notes to Huygens. These notes include: Selenographia in 1647, Mercurius in sole vicus in 1662, Prodromus cometicus in 1665, Cometographia in 1668, and Machina Coelestis in 1673. A French astronomer, Ismael Bouillau, an English astronomer, Edmund Halley, and Christaan’s brother, Philips Huygens, all visited Hevelius throughout his years as an astronomer. In 1664 Johannes Hevelius became a member of the English Royal Society of Sciences. In 1666, Hevelius also became a member of the French Académie des Sciences. It was established then that Johannes Hevelius had established global recognition.

The work that Johannes Hevelius did to achieve his global fame was impressive. It was established that Hevelius had an eye for observations, and thus kept detailed maps of much of the sky. Hevelius carefully charted detailed patterns of the Moon, the phases of Mercury, sunspots, and multiple comets.

Johannes Hevelius’ most famous work was Selenographia, which was a complete map of the Moon. In this piece of work, Hevelius re-named many features, such as mountains and craters, on the moon. Many of these names are still in use today. The most astonishing part of this work was the drawing of the moon in its different stages of libration. This is how Selenographia ends, with a description of the mounted lunar globe. This description shows the representation of librational movements.

In 1663, Hevelius’ wife Katharina died, thus he then marries a sixteen year-old named Elisabeth Koopman. Like his first wife, Elisabeth helped Hevelius with his observations. Unfortunately in 1679, a fire consumed much of Hevelius’ instruments and his workshop. Most of his records were destroyed, but he managed to save his all-important star catalog.

In 1687, Hevelius creates his Firmamentum Sobiescianum. This is Hevelius’ star atlas. It contained many new stars and constellations. The constellations that Hevelius named and discovered include, Scutum, Lacerta, Vulpecula cum Anser, Canes Venatici, Leo Minor, Lynx, Cerberus, Mons Maenalus, and Triangulum Minus. This star chart catalogued more than 1500 stellar positions, and grew to expand the catalogue of Tycho Brahe.

Also in 1687, when Johannes Hevelius died, his wife, Elisabeth, made sure his remaining works did not go to waste. She made sure that his remaining works were printed.