Gruithuisen, Franz von Paula (1774–1852)
German physician-turned-astronomer, among the most prolific of his age in
terms of published output, and professor of astronomy at Munich from 1826,
who argued energetically in favor of advanced life on the Moon and inner
planets (see Moon, life on). On the subject
of a lunar civilization he supported Schröter's
similarly exuberant claims and wrote such papers as "Discovery of Many Distinct
Traces of Lunar Inhabitants, Especially of One of Their Colossal Buildings"
(1824), claiming that he had seen roads, cities, and a star-shaped "temple."
Such extraordinary inferences, from what otherwise may have been sound telescopic
observations, made him the object of ridicule by fellow astronomers, even
those who appeared generally sympathetic to the idea of lunar life, such
as Gauss, von Littrow,
and Olbers. Gruithuisen's over-active imagination
also led him to suggest that the ashen light
was due to "festivals of fire given by the Venusians ... celebrated either
to correspond to changes in government or to religious periods." A small
crater on the Moon is named after him.
Related category
• ASTRONOMERS
AND ASTROPHYSICISTS
Also on this site:
Encyclopedia
of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living
Encyclopedia
of History
BACK TO TOP
|
