Karl Knorre,the first astronomer of Nikolaev Observatory (on the occasion of his bicentenary)

Karl Friedrich Knorre (1801–1883) was the son of Ernst Knorre, an astronomy professor at Dorpat university. During his education at Dorpat university, he became acquainted with Wilhelm Struve, the future director of Pulkovo observatory. Because of Knorre's passion for astronomy, Struve recommended him to the post of director of the planned naval observatory in Nikolaev. From its foundation in 1821, Karl Knorre was director of the Nikolaev Naval (and later Astronomical) Observatory. He carried out star position observations with the meridian circle, worked as an astronomy instructor for sea navigators, compiled the fifth section of the star charts of the Berlin Academy of Sciences and lead all hydrographic determinations on the Azov and Black seas. In 1871, Karl Nikolaev Observatory, and moved to Berlin.     

Current state and development of the minor planets research in Nikolaev Astronomical Observatory

Regular positional observations of minor planets in Nikolaev Astronomical Observatory have been begun with installation of photographic Zone Astrograph in 1961. The observations of 19 selected minor planets up to 12 magnitude were obtained for 36 years. Accuracy of the photographic positions of minor planets is rather high, 0.15^′′-0.19^′′. These positions were used for improvement of the system of fundamental catalogue and determination of its orientation to the dynamical reference frame. CCD observations of asteroids have been begun at the Zone Astrograph in 2000. There was obtained about the same accuracy, as in photographic observations. During 2004-2006 NAO participated in international collaboration with TUBITAK National Observatory (Turkey) and Kazan State University (Russia) in positional and photometric observations of small Solar system bodies. About four thousands of CCD images for 58 asteroids of 11-18 mag were obtained with internal and external errors of 30-80 mas of a single determination. Some of these observations, as well as the observations of the Minor Planet Center, are being used for the current asteroid mass determinations in Nikolaev observatory. Available results allow us to consider the Russian-Turkish telescope RTT150 as a good candidate for ground-based astrometry support of the future space mission GAIA, moreover in the period before GAIA.     

Satellites of minor planets: A new frontier for celestial mechanics

Most minor planets have satellites. This observation is predicted to have a major impact on the theory of minor planets, comets, and meteors.Presented at the Symposium Star Catalogues, Positional Astronomy and Celestial Mechanics, held in honor of Paul Herget at the U.S. Naval Observatory, Washington, November 30, 1978.     

夏商周断代工程及其天文学问题

《夏商周断代工程》由文献,考古,古文字,碳14测年和天文学待方面的专家联合攻关,致车于推进我国早期年代学研究的发展,天文学在五星聚合,三代大火,国外天象,仲康日食,夏小正,禹伐三苗,甲骨文天象,武王伐纣,天再旦,金文历谱,周代历法,计算中心等专题中起了主要或重要作用,天文方法确定的宾组月食,武王伐纣和天再旦年代被作为断代工程结论而采用,成为夏商周年的重要支撑点,铜器铭文中的朋相记录也是西周列王年代的重要依据。     

Comets,meteors, and eclipses: Art and science in early Renaissance Italy

Abstract— We discuss eight trecento (fourteenth century) paintings containing depictions of astronomical events to reveal the revolutionary advances made in both astronomy and naturalistic painting in early Renaissance Italy, noting that an artistic interest in naturalism predisposed these pioneering painters to make their scientific observations. In turn, the convincing representations of their observations of astronomical phenomena in works of art rendered their paintings more convincing. Padua was already a renowned center for mathematics and nascent astronomy (which was separating from astrology) when Enrico Scrovegni commissioned the famous Florentine artist Giotto di Bondone to decorate his lavish family chapel (ca. 1301–1303). Giotto painted a flaming comet in lieu of the traditional Star of Bethlehem in the Adoration of the Magi scene. Moreover, he painted a historical apparition that he recently had observed with a great accuracy even by modern standards: Halley's comet of 1301 (Olson, 1979). While we do not know the identity of the artist's theological advisor, we discuss the possibility that Pietro d'Abano, the Paduan medical doctor and “astronomer” who wrote on comets, might have been influential. We also compare Giotto's blazing comet with two others painted by the artist's shop in San Francesco at Assisi (before 1316) and account for the differences. In addition, we discuss Giotto's pupil, Taddeo Gaddi, reputed to have been partially blinded by a solar eclipse, whose calamity may find expression in his frescoes in Santa Croce, Florence (1328–1330; 1338?). Giotto also influenced the Sienese painter Pietro Lorenzetti, two of whose Passion cycle frescoes at Assisi (1316–1320) contain dazzling meteor showers which reveal that the artist observed astronomical phenomena, such as the “radiant” effect of meteor showers, first recorded by Alexander von Humboldt in 1799 and accepted only in the nineteenth century. Lorenzetti also painted sporadic, independent meteors, which do not emanate from the radiant. It is also significant that these artists observed differences between comets and meteors, facts that were not absolutely established until the eighteenth century. In addition we demonstrate that artistic and scientific visual acuity were part of the burgeoning empiricism of the fourteenth century, which eventually yielded modern observational astronomy.     

Eugen Goldstein and his laboratory work at Berlin Observatory

At the end of the 19th century, the astronomer Wilhelm Foerster, director of Berlin Observatory, initiated an extraordinary research project: He asked the physicist Eugen Goldstein to examine experimentally the nature of electricity in space. Eugen Goldstein (1850–1930) was one of the most deserving pioneers in the field of electricity. He discovered, e.g., the canal rays, and he introduced the term cathode ray. He became assistent at Berlin Observatory, and his official duty was the research on relations between electricity and cosmic phenomena. As a result, Goldstein successfully reproduced comet tails in gas discharge tubes.     

Do comets have satellites?

The recent evidence that many minor planets may have satellites, together with recently iscovered physical, chemical, and lightcurve similarities between minor planets and comets, lead naturally to the question, “Might comets have satellites also?” This paper explores several puzzling features of comets which do not fit easily into conventional cometary models, but which can be satisfactorily explained if it is assumed that comets have a full range of gravitationally bound masses, from dust size to the size of the nucleus, in orbit around the principal nucleus. This discussion also implies a higher probability of destruction of a spacecraft near a comet than is usually assumed.     

Report of the IAU/IAG Working Group on cartographic coordinates and rotational elements: 2006

Every three years the IAU/IAG Working Group on Cartographic Coordinates and Rotational Elements revises tables giving the directions of the poles of rotation and the prime meridians of the planets, satellites, minor planets, and comets. This report introduces improved values for the pole and rotation rate of Pluto, Charon, and Phoebe, the pole of Jupiter, the sizes and shapes of Saturn satellites and Charon, and the poles, rotation rates, and sizes of some minor planets and comets. A high precision realization for the pole and rotation rate of the Moon is provided. The expression for the Sun’s rotation has been changed to be consistent with the planets and to account for light travel time     

The struve dynasty in the history of astronomy in Ukraine

The impact of the Struve astronomical dynasty on the development of astronomy in Ukraine in the 19th–20th centuries is studied. First of all, the role of F.G.W. Struve and O.V. Struve in the formation of astronomical research programs at the observatories at the Kharkiv, Kyiv, Odesa, and Mykolayiv, in equipping the observatories with instruments, in practical training of astronomers as well as in the organization of astronomy-geodetic expeditions (19th century). Particular attention is paid to the activity of L.O. Struve as a director of the Astronomical observatory of Kharkiv University and his works conducted together with G.A. Shajn and B.P. Gerasimovich (20th century) as well as to the impact of his scientific and public activity, including one he made as a President of IAC, on the development of astronomy in the Soviet Union and Ukraine. A range of important documents from the archives of Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of astronomy and State Archive of Ukraine are cited. The article was translated by the authors.     

Astronomy in the Elbrus Region

Astronomical research in the Elbrus Region are conducted in the wide international cooperation. They are implemented in under the aegis of the International Association of Academies of Sciences in collaboration with the Euro-Asiatic Association of Universities. Authors outline the important scientific results obtained in the fields of fundamental, applied, and search studies within the international astronomical programs at the Terskol Peak Observatory. They refer to the problem of the identification of diffuse interstellar bands, studies of the star light-curve, detection of optical residuals of gamma-ray bursts, determination of the kinematic and physical characteristics of minor bodies of the Solar System (asteroids and comets), as well as investigation of space objects of technogenic origin in the near-Earth space environment.     

Positionen Kleiner Planeten und Kometen

The table contains topocentric positions of several minor planets and comets. The coordinates are given for the epoch 1950.0.     

地基雷达技术及其在太阳系天体探测中的应用

人类利用雷达波进行天文研究距今已有40多年历史了.它是一种发射雷达波到目标天体,通过分析其回波特性来进行天文探测的技术.该文从地基雷达在太阳系天体探测中的应用出发,分析了地基雷达相比其他探测手段的优点;介绍了地基雷达的基本工作原理;给出了近年来地基雷达的发展情况和探测成果;最后从现有条件出发,探讨了我国开展地基雷达探测的设想.     

Milutin Milanković (1879 – 1958) and his contribution to European astronomy

The contribution to European astronomy of Milutin Milanković is analyzed. A crater on the far side of the Moon, a crater on Mars, and asteroid 1605 are named after this most distinguished Serbian astronomer. He explained the phenomenon of the ice ages by an astronomical theory. Milanković elucidated also the history of the Earth's climate as well as that of planet Mars, and in addition he was the author of the mathematical theory of climate and of the Earth's polar motion. He did important contributions to celestial mechanics and the history of astronomy, and was a great popularizator of science. At the orthodox church council in 1923 in Istanbul, he submitted a proposal concerning the reform of the calendar, elaborated by him and by Maksim Trpković, providing for a more exact calendar than the Gregorian one. The calendar of Milanković is now used by some orthodox churches, such as the Greek and Romanian ones.     

Étude de la position de la lune sur champ stellaire

In order to improve our knowledge of the astronomical constants, great interest must be paid to accurate positions of major planets and their satellites. Likewise, accurate astrometry of the Moon on stellar background is essential to determine the ephemeris time. Both programs are pursued by Bordeaux Observatory.     

Some results from the National Observatory of Turkey, Kazan State University, and Nikolaev Astronomical Observatory on small bodies of the solar system

A scientific collaboration between TÜB?TAK National Observatory (Turkey), Kazan State University (Russia) and Nikolaev Astronomical Observatory (Ukraine) involves observations of minor planets and near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) with the 1.5 m Russian-Turkish telescope (RTT150). Regular observations of selected asteroids in the range of 11-18 magnitudes began in 2004 with the view of determining masses of selected asteroids, improving the orbits of the NEAs, and studying physical characteristics of selected asteroids from photometric observations. More than 3000 positions of 53 selected asteroids and 11 NEAs have been obtained with an internal error in the range of 30-300 mas for a single determination. Photometric reductions of more than 4000 CCD frames are in progress. Masses of 21 asteroids were estimated through dynamical method using the ground-based optical observations, mainly from the RTT150 and Minor Planet Center. A comparison of the observational results from the RTT150 in 2004-2005 with observations of the same objects at other observatories allows us to conclude that RTT150 can be used for ground-based support in astrometry for the space mission GAIA.     

Application of KS-transformation in the problem of investigation of the motion of unusual minor planets and comets

A review is presented of the author's results on application of regularizing and stabilizing KS- transformation in the problem of investigation of the motion of unusual minor planets and comets. Two models of the motion of a minor body are considered, viz. the perturbed two body problem and the perturbed restricted three body problem. The variational equations in KS-variables and transformations for obtaining the matrix of partial derivatives of the instantaneous physical parameters of motion with respect to their initial values are presented. The peculiarities of the implementation of the algorithms developed as programs on a computer are described. The original results of the investigation of the efficiency of the developed algorithms and programs are discussed using as an example the motion of unusual minor planets Icarus and Geographos as well as comets Halley, Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova and Gehrels 3.     

Analysis of Korean astronomical records with Chinese equatorial coordinates

The historical documents of ancient Korea contain abundant records on various astronomical phenomena. The historical documents of the Joseon dynasty contain observational values based on Chinese equatorial coordinate system (i.e., angular distances from the reference star of a lunar mansion and the North Pole). However, quantitative analysis of the observational values has not been carried out. In this study, we investigate the observational accuracy during the Joseon dynasty by comparing the astronomical records of Joseonwangjo Sillok (Annals of the Joseon Dynasty) and Seungjeongwon Ilgi (Daily Records of the Royal Secretariat) with modern astronomical calculations. Consequently, we find that the observational accuracy during the early Joseon dynasty was approximately 1°.2 and 0°.3 in the right ascension and declination, respectively. On the other hand, we find that the observational accuracy during the later Joseon dynasty was considerably poor. Observations of Halley's comet in 1759 were off by approximately 7° in declination. We believe that further investigation is required to verify the reason for this poor accuracy. Thus, we list the complete records used for this study in the appendix. We believe that these records also can contribute to modern studies on phenomena such as supernovae or Halley's comet. In conclusion, we believe that this study is useful for understanding ancient Korean astronomical records, even though we have considered a small number of astronomical events (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Suggestions for some single dish radio astronomy standards

In this paper we examine the possibility of adopting standards within the context of radio astronomy and the benefits to be derived thereby. In particular we consider the application of standards within the three areas of the receiver hardware, the control and communication between different parts of the observing system, and the interface with the astronomer. The adoption of such standards will increase flexibility of observing systems, allow the easy interchange of equipment between observatories and greatly simplify guest observing. In this paper we will only consider the application of standards within the field of millimetre-wave and sub-millimetre-wave single dish astronomy. However, the principle can be easily extended to other astronomical wavebands. We describe some current developments at the Onsala Space Observatory which illustrate the proposed philosophy and show how such standards may be implemented. Naturally, the detailed definition of such standards would have to be agreed in conjunction with other interested astronomical institutions.     

天文学中的数据挖掘和知识发现

综述了数据挖掘和知识发现在天文学中兴起的必然性及其这几年的发展状况、实现过程和具体任务。分析了当前天文数据的复杂性，介绍了天文学中数据挖掘的科学要求。系统地概括了近年来天文学中数据挖掘和知识发现领域研究的进展及其热点，并阐述了其所面临的挑战。天文学中的数据挖掘和知识发现的兴起将对天文学的发展起到巨大的推动作用，同时也在知识和技术等方面对天文学家提出了新的要求。另外，数据挖掘技术能否在虚拟天文台中成功应用，是虚拟天文台充分发挥作用的关键所在。     

Beobachtungen kleiner Planeten

We represent the publication of photographic observations of some minor planets, made at the University Observatory Siegen.