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Tobias MayerGerman astronomer and cartographer
Date of Birth: 17.02.1723
Country:  Germany |
Content:
Biography of Tobias Mayer
Tobias Mayer was a German astronomer and cartographer born in 1723 in Marbach, Württemberg. Despite growing up in less fortunate circumstances as the son of a craftsman, Mayer developed a passion for mathematics and self-studied the subject. As a young man, he moved to Nuremberg, where he published original works on geometry. He then joined the cartographic institution 'J.B. Homann' as an engraver and draftsman, dedicating his free time to scientific research and conducting his own astronomical observations using self-made instruments. Mayer's efforts paid off, and he soon introduced several improvements to the field of cartography, earning a high reputation within scientific circles.
Career and Contributions
In 1751, Mayer was invited to the University of Göttingen, where he became a professor of economics and mathematics. In 1754, he obtained the position of observatory director, a role he held until his death in 1762. During his career, Mayer made significant contributions to the field of astronomy. In 1750, he published his first notable work titled "Kosmographische Nachrichten," and in 1755, he published a work on lunar motion research.
One of Mayer's most celebrated works, "Theoria Lunae juxta systema Newtonianum," was published posthumously and gained wide recognition. His observations of the Moon remained unsurpassed for almost half a century. Mayer also left behind a considerable amount of manuscripts, some of which were collected by G.C. Lichtenberg and published in 1775 under the title "Opera inedita." This book included a simple and accurate method for calculating eclipses and a catalog of 998 zodiacal stars, which still holds significant importance in astrology. In 1830, Mayer's star catalog was republished by Francis Baily, and in 1894, it was edited by Arthur Auwers.
Legacy
Tobias Mayer passed away on February 20, 1762, in Göttingen. His work on determining stellar motions became the foundation for the modern fundamental system of star positions. Notably, Mayer, like his fellow astronomers, often encountered numerous inaccuracies in observations made by both predecessors and contemporaries. In a letter to a friend, Mayer wrote, "We have many examples of contemporary astronomers who adore their constructions to the point of falsifying observations."
In honor of Tobias Mayer's contributions to astronomy, a lunar crater was named after him. His son, Johann Tobias Mayer (1752-1830), also became a professor at the University of Göttingen, following in his father's footsteps.
