Gustav Wilhelm Ludwig von Struve (November 1, 1858 – November 4, 1920[1]) was a Baltic Germanastronomer, part of the famous Baltic GermanStruve family. In Russian, his name is sometimes given as Lyudvig Ottovich Struve (Людвиг Оттович Струве) or Lyudvig Ottonovich Struve (Людвиг Оттонович Струве).
Gustav Wilhelm Ludwig von Struve was born in 1858 in Tsarskoye Selo – a former Russian residence of the imperial family and visiting nobility, located 26 kilometers (16 mi) south from the center of St. Petersburg. He was the fourth son of Otto Wilhelm von Struve and Emilie Dyrssen (1823–1868) and a younger brother of astronomer Hermann Struve. Ludwig followed his family traditions and between 1876 and 1880 studied astronomy at the Imperial University of Dorpat. For his post-graduate research started at the Pulkovo Observatory which was headed by his father. In 1883, Ludwig defended his PhD thesis on "Resultate aus den in Pulkowa angestellen Vergleichungen von Procyon mit benachbarten Sternen" (Results obtained in Pulkovo on relation of Procyon with the neighboring stars). Between 1883 and 1886, Struve was staying abroad in several European observatories, including those in Bonn, Milan, Paris and Leipzig. His major influences in astronomy were his father and the Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli. Between 1886 and 1894, Struve worked as an astronomer at the Tartu Observatory. In 1887, using results obtained during his European trip, he prepared and defended the habilitation thesis titled "Neue Bestimmung der Constante der Precession und der eigenen Bewegung des Sonnensystems" (New determination of the constant of precession and of the motion of the Solar System).[2][3][4][5][6]
ResearchEdit
Kharkiv Observatory in 1914.
A few years after retirement of his father, in 1894, Ludwig moved to the University of Kharkiv. There, in 1897 he became professor in astronomy and geodesy and director of the observatory. Prior to Struve, the Kharkiv Observatory was not registered within the Russian leveling network and the altitude of Kharkiv was based on rather inaccurate trigonometric leveling conducted by local triangulation. It took Struve five years of hard work to include the observatory to the Russian leveling network. In 1912, he was elected as Dean of the Physics and Mathematics Department of Kharkiv University. In 1914, he founded a workshop of fine mechanics at the department and headed it for five years. Prior to that, such institutions had been nonexistent in Russia, and foreign engineers were personally invited for precision mechanical work. Struve attempted to build a national school in this area, but with limited success. He himself was a skilled engineer and constructed an instrument for the measurement of "an individual error using artificial star.” This device was invented by H. G. van de Sande Bakhuyzen at the Leiden Observatory and was actively used by Struve.[2][5][6]
Struve's research was first focused on celestial mechanics, in particular precession and other motion within the Solar System. It then expanded on the study of the positions and motion of stars, in particular single and double stars lying within the angular range of the Tartu Observatory. He used occultation of stars by the Moon to refine the value of the lunar radius. He also determined the apex coordinates of the Sun's movement and was one of the first astronomers to estimate, in 1887, the rotation rate of the Milky Way.[2][4][6][7]
On the basis of his observations in Kharkiv, Struve compiled a catalogue "Observation of 779 zodiac stars” (1898–1902). Between 1908 and 1915, Struve with collaborators determined right ascension and declination of 1407 circumpolar stars, taking about 11,000 observations for each coordinate. The results were published in the "Kharkiv differential catalogue of declination of 1407 circumpolar stars in FK4 system for mean epoch of 1911 year" and "The results of a comparison of the catalogue of declination of 1407 circumpolar stars and the Fabritius catalogue with the tables of proper motion of 412 circumpolar stars".[2][5][6]
Late yearsEdit
Struve was married to Elizaveta Khrystoforovna (1874–1964) and they had two sons and two daughters. Their first child, son Otto, was born in Kharkiv in 1897, and later became one of the most famous astronomers of the 20th century. Otto served as a White Russian officer in the losing side of the civil war that followed the Russian Revolution. Therefore, to avoid Bolshevik's repressions, Struve had to move in 1919 to Simferopol where he had assumed professor position at the Tavrida University. He left in Kharkiv a collection of about 1400 historical letters involving his father and grandfather, Friedrich Georg Wilhelm von Struve. The collection had survived two wars and was preserved till the present days.[2][5][6]
After leaving Kharkiv, tragedy struck the Struve family with three deaths in the over the course of five months. In the summer of 1920, Ludwig's 9-year-old daughter Elizabeth drowned in front of him. Shortly afterward, his son Werner (1903–1920) died from tuberculosis, and in November, Ludwig himself died of a stroke. He was survived by his wife and daughter Yadviga (1901–1924), who returned to Kharkiv. Yadviga had taught German at Kharkiv Technology Institute, but died in 1924 of tuberculosis.[2][5][6]
AwardsEdit
In 1915, Struve received an award from the council of the Russian Astronomical Society, where he was a member from 1893. The award was given for his work “Elaboration of the observations of lunar occultation of the stars during the total lunar eclipse” that was carried within a collaboration between the Kharkiv and Pulkovo observatories.[2][5][6]
Citations and referencesEdit
^Obituary Notes of Astronomers at www.astro.uni-bonn.de
^ abcdefgBalyshev Marat. Otto Ludwigovich Struve (1897-1963).- Moscow: Nauka, 2008. - 526 p.
^Struve, (Gustav Wilhelm) Ludwig (Ottovich) von (1858-1920) 2011-06-06 at the Wayback Machine
^ abV. K. Abalkin et al. Struve dynasty 2011-05-14 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian), St. Petersburg University
^ abcdefArtemenko, T. G.; Balyshev, M. A.; Vavilova, I. B. (2009). "The struve dynasty in the history of astronomy in Ukraine". Kinematics and Physics of Celestial Bodies. 25 (3): 153. Bibcode:2009KPCB...25..153A. doi:10.3103/S0884591309030040. S2CID 122065816.
^ abcdefgBalyshev Marat. Ludwig Ottowich Struve. Notes of Historian (2007) 2011-08-31 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
Balyshev, M.A. (2021). Ludwig von Struve (1858–1920): Development of Positional Astronomy at the Kharkiv Astronomical Observatory. Kinematics and Physics of Celestial Bodies, 37(5): 269-272.
Balyshev, M.A. (2021). Astronomer Ludwig Ottovich Struve (1858-1920): A scientific biography. Science and Science of Science, 3: 76-102. (In Ukrainian)
Balyshev M. (2007) Ludwig Ottonovich Struve. Notes historian. Universitates. Science and Enlightenment, 1. P.34-43.(In Russian)
ludwig, struve, gustav, wilhelm, november, 1858, november, 1920, baltic, german, astronomer, part, famous, baltic, german, struve, family, russian, name, sometimes, given, lyudvig, ottovich, struve, Людвиг, Оттович, Струве, lyudvig, ottonovich, struve, Людвиг,. Gustav Wilhelm Ludwig von Struve November 1 1858 November 4 1920 1 was a Baltic German astronomer part of the famous Baltic German Struve family In Russian his name is sometimes given as Lyudvig Ottovich Struve Lyudvig Ottovich Struve or Lyudvig Ottonovich Struve Lyudvig Ottonovich Struve Struve in 1901 Contents 1 Biography 2 Research 3 Late years 4 Awards 5 Citations and references 5 1 Cited sourcesBiography EditGustav Wilhelm Ludwig von Struve was born in 1858 in Tsarskoye Selo a former Russian residence of the imperial family and visiting nobility located 26 kilometers 16 mi south from the center of St Petersburg He was the fourth son of Otto Wilhelm von Struve and Emilie Dyrssen 1823 1868 and a younger brother of astronomer Hermann Struve Ludwig followed his family traditions and between 1876 and 1880 studied astronomy at the Imperial University of Dorpat For his post graduate research started at the Pulkovo Observatory which was headed by his father In 1883 Ludwig defended his PhD thesis on Resultate aus den in Pulkowa angestellen Vergleichungen von Procyon mit benachbarten Sternen Results obtained in Pulkovo on relation of Procyon with the neighboring stars Between 1883 and 1886 Struve was staying abroad in several European observatories including those in Bonn Milan Paris and Leipzig His major influences in astronomy were his father and the Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli Between 1886 and 1894 Struve worked as an astronomer at the Tartu Observatory In 1887 using results obtained during his European trip he prepared and defended the habilitation thesis titled Neue Bestimmung der Constante der Precession und der eigenen Bewegung des Sonnensystems New determination of the constant of precession and of the motion of the Solar System 2 3 4 5 6 Research Edit Kharkiv Observatory in 1914 A few years after retirement of his father in 1894 Ludwig moved to the University of Kharkiv There in 1897 he became professor in astronomy and geodesy and director of the observatory Prior to Struve the Kharkiv Observatory was not registered within the Russian leveling network and the altitude of Kharkiv was based on rather inaccurate trigonometric leveling conducted by local triangulation It took Struve five years of hard work to include the observatory to the Russian leveling network In 1912 he was elected as Dean of the Physics and Mathematics Department of Kharkiv University In 1914 he founded a workshop of fine mechanics at the department and headed it for five years Prior to that such institutions had been nonexistent in Russia and foreign engineers were personally invited for precision mechanical work Struve attempted to build a national school in this area but with limited success He himself was a skilled engineer and constructed an instrument for the measurement of an individual error using artificial star This device was invented by H G van de Sande Bakhuyzen at the Leiden Observatory and was actively used by Struve 2 5 6 Struve s research was first focused on celestial mechanics in particular precession and other motion within the Solar System It then expanded on the study of the positions and motion of stars in particular single and double stars lying within the angular range of the Tartu Observatory He used occultation of stars by the Moon to refine the value of the lunar radius He also determined the apex coordinates of the Sun s movement and was one of the first astronomers to estimate in 1887 the rotation rate of the Milky Way 2 4 6 7 On the basis of his observations in Kharkiv Struve compiled a catalogue Observation of 779 zodiac stars 1898 1902 Between 1908 and 1915 Struve with collaborators determined right ascension and declination of 1407 circumpolar stars taking about 11 000 observations for each coordinate The results were published in the Kharkiv differential catalogue of declination of 1407 circumpolar stars in FK4 system for mean epoch of 1911 year and The results of a comparison of the catalogue of declination of 1407 circumpolar stars and the Fabritius catalogue with the tables of proper motion of 412 circumpolar stars 2 5 6 Late years EditStruve was married to Elizaveta Khrystoforovna 1874 1964 and they had two sons and two daughters Their first child son Otto was born in Kharkiv in 1897 and later became one of the most famous astronomers of the 20th century Otto served as a White Russian officer in the losing side of the civil war that followed the Russian Revolution Therefore to avoid Bolshevik s repressions Struve had to move in 1919 to Simferopol where he had assumed professor position at the Tavrida University He left in Kharkiv a collection of about 1400 historical letters involving his father and grandfather Friedrich Georg Wilhelm von Struve The collection had survived two wars and was preserved till the present days 2 5 6 After leaving Kharkiv tragedy struck the Struve family with three deaths in the over the course of five months In the summer of 1920 Ludwig s 9 year old daughter Elizabeth drowned in front of him Shortly afterward his son Werner 1903 1920 died from tuberculosis and in November Ludwig himself died of a stroke He was survived by his wife and daughter Yadviga 1901 1924 who returned to Kharkiv Yadviga had taught German at Kharkiv Technology Institute but died in 1924 of tuberculosis 2 5 6 Awards EditIn 1915 Struve received an award from the council of the Russian Astronomical Society where he was a member from 1893 The award was given for his work Elaboration of the observations of lunar occultation of the stars during the total lunar eclipse that was carried within a collaboration between the Kharkiv and Pulkovo observatories 2 5 6 Citations and references Edit Obituary Notes of Astronomers at www astro uni bonn de a b c d e f g Balyshev Marat Otto Ludwigovich Struve 1897 1963 Moscow Nauka 2008 526 p Struve Gustav Wilhelm Ludwig Ottovich von 1858 1920 Archived 2011 06 06 at the Wayback Machine a b V K Abalkin et al Struve dynasty Archived 2011 05 14 at the Wayback Machine in Russian St Petersburg University a b c d e f Artemenko T G Balyshev M A Vavilova I B 2009 The struve dynasty in the history of astronomy in Ukraine Kinematics and Physics of Celestial Bodies 25 3 153 Bibcode 2009KPCB 25 153A doi 10 3103 S0884591309030040 S2CID 122065816 a b c d e f g Balyshev Marat Ludwig Ottowich Struve Notes of Historian 2007 Archived 2011 08 31 at the Wayback Machine in Russian John Lankford 1997 History of astronomy an encyclopedia Taylor amp Francis p 500 ISBN 0 8153 0322 X Cited sources Edit Balyshev M A 2021 Ludwig von Struve 1858 1920 Development of Positional Astronomy at the Kharkiv Astronomical Observatory Kinematics and Physics of Celestial Bodies 37 5 269 272 Balyshev M A 2021 Astronomer Ludwig Ottovich Struve 1858 1920 A scientific biography Science and Science of Science 3 76 102 In Ukrainian Balyshev M 2007 Ludwig Ottonovich Struve Notes historian Universitates Science and Enlightenment 1 P 34 43 In Russian vteStruve family treeJacob 1755 1841 MathematicianAnton SebastianCarl 1785 1838 PhilologistErnst 1786 1822 Gustav 1788 1829 Friedrich Georg Wilhelm 1793 1864 AstronomerLudwig 1795 1828 AnatomistJohann Christoph Gustav 1763 1828 DiplomatOtto Wilhelm 1819 1905 AstronomerHeinrich 1822 1908 ChemistBerngard 1827 1889 Russian governorKarl 1835 1907 PoliticianJohann Ludwig 1812 1898 Gustav 1805 1870 PoliticianKarl Hermann 1854 1920 AstronomerGustav Ludwig 1858 1920 AstronomerVasily Berngardovich 1854 1912 MathematicianPeter Berngardovich 1870 1944 RevolutionaryAlexander BerngardovichGeorg Hermann 1886 1933 AstronomerOtto 1897 1963 AstronomerVasily Vasilevich 1889 1965 HistorianGleb 1898 1985 PoetAleksey 1899 1976 Library founderWilfried 1914 1992 AstronomerNikita Alexeyevich 1931 2016 AuthorNotes Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ludwig von Struve amp oldid 1167459755, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
