Johannes and Elisabeth Hevelius

By: Vanessa Pham

Johannes Hevelius Known as the “founder of Lunar Topography”

Contributed to the Astronomical World by creating detailed description of the Moon’s surface, which

included moon’s phases and its motion in longitude.

He was the first man to estimate the mountains on the moon.

Was the first to discover the Sunspots on the Moon, and was determined to monitor them for

observations.

Discovered four comets, which led to his thesis that the bodies revolve around the sun in a parabolic

paths.

He was the first to observe the transit of Mercury.

Was one of the last astronomers to do any major studies, without the use of lenses.

Elisabeth HeveliusMarried to Johannes Hevelius, who was

also an astronomer. Very first female astronomer on record.

Gained the title of “the mother of moon charts.”

After her husband’s sudden death, she edited and published his unfinished

works.

Her life was novelized in the book The Star Huntress by Eric Waltz.

Rejection of Telescopes Hevelius refused the introduction of telescopes,

instead he created his own Astronomical Instruments.

He is known for inventing a a large 150ft Keplerian telescope (focal length) using just wood and a wire tube he has connected himself for more accurate

cellular measurements. [see first picture to the right] Johannes used a 130-foot focal length air telescope,

in order to observe the moon’s surface in great detail.

Hevelius has proved he did not need the “telescope” to discover new mysterious in the sky. Whereas

compared to other astronomers such as Halley, who can’t view the Moon as clear as him using a

telescope.

Constellations

Topography of the Moon

In their Honor In their Honor Hevelius made observations on a variable star

named by him, Mira , which is included in the Annus climactericus .

Johannes Hevelius received a large (118km in diameter) Lunar Crater named in his honor, the

crater Hevelius is described as “Hevel ” a description also used to desrcibe Johanned Hevelius.

On November 15 th , 1931 Reimuth, K discovered a main asteroid belt and named it after Johannes

Hevelius, called 5703 Hevelius.

Elisabeth received a crater on Venus, named Koopman.

Elisabeth also received a minor planet(12625 Koopman) named after her, Catherina Elisabetha

Koopman Hevelius.

Bibliographyhttp://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/264492/Johannes-Hevelius

http://www.nndb.com/people/649/000096361/

http:// www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Johannes_Hevelius.aspx

http://www.google.com/search?q=johannes+hevelius&gbv=2&hl=en&tbs=tl:1&tbo=u&ei=IAUTS578KI60tgez0NCZDg&sa=X&oi=timeline_result

&ct=title&resnum=15&ved=0CEEQ5wIwDg

http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannes_Hevelius

http://seds.org/messier/Xtra/Bios/hevelius.html

http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisabeth_Hevelius