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- This article is about the German astronomer Max Wolf. For the Czech astronomer, see Marek Wolf. For the American writer and poet, see Max Wolf Valerio.
Maximilian Franz Joseph Cornelius Wolf (June 21, 1863–October 3, 1932) was a German astronomer, a pioneer of astrophotography.
He was born in Heidelberg, Germany. In 1888 he was awarded a Ph.D. by the University of Heidelberg, and joined the staff of that institution in 1890.
Working at Landessternwarte Heidelberg-Königstuhl, he discovered more than 200 asteroids with the Bruce double-astrograph since 1891. The first one, 323 Brucia, was named after Catherine Wolfe Bruce, who had donated 10.000$ for the construction of the telescope. He pioneered the use of astrophotographic techniques to automate the discovery of asteroids, as opposed to older visual methods, as a result of which asteroid discovery rates sharply increased. In time-exposure photographs, asteroids appear as short streaks due to their planetary motion with respect to fixed stars.
Among his many discoveries was 588 Achilles (the first Trojan asteroid) in 1906, as well as two other Trojans: 659 Nestor and 884 Priamus. He also discovered 887 Alinda in 1918, which is now recognized as an Earth-crossing Amor asteroid (or sometimes classified as the namesake of its own Alinda family). Shortly after his last discovery (on February 6, 1932), his record 248 discoveries were beaten by his pupil Karl Wilhelm Reinmuth, on July 24, 1933.
He also discovered or co-discovered some comets, including 14P/Wolf and 43P/Wolf-Harrington, and four supernovae: SN 1895A (a.k.a. VW Vir), 1909A (a.k.a. SS UMa), 1920A, and 1926A (the latter co-discovered by Reinmuth).
He also discovered Wolf 359, a red dwarf that is one of the nearest stars to our solar system. Note that Wolf-Rayet stars were co-discovered by French astronomer Charles Wolf and not by him.
In 1910 Wolf proposed to the Carl Zeiss optics firm the creation of a new instrument, now known as the planetarium. World War I intervened before this could be developed, but the Zeiss company returned to this after peace was restored, and the first successful planetarium was completed in 1923.
He died in Heidelberg.
[edit] Asteroids
| Asteroids discovered: 248 |
| 323 Brucia |
December 22, 1891 |
| 325 Heidelberga |
March 4, 1892 |
| 328 Gudrun |
March 18, 1892 |
| 329 Svea |
March 21, 1892 |
| 330 Adalberta |
February 2, 1910 |
| 332 Siri |
March 19, 1892 |
| 333 Badenia |
August 22, 1892 |
| 334 Chicago |
August 23, 1892 |
| 339 Dorothea |
September 25, 1892 |
| 340 Eduarda |
September 25, 1892 |
| 341 California |
September 25, 1892 |
| 342 Endymion |
October 17, 1892 |
| 343 Ostara |
November 15, 1892 |
| 351 Yrsa |
December 16, 1892 |
| 352 Gisela |
January 12, 1893 |
| 353 Ruperto-Carola |
January 16, 1893 |
| 385 Ilmatar |
March 1, 1894 |
| 386 Siegena |
March 1, 1894 |
| 391 Ingeborg |
November 1, 1894 |
| 392 Wilhelmina |
November 4, 1894 |
| 393 Lampetia |
November 4, 1894 |
| 399 Persephone |
February 23, 1895 |
| 401 Ottilia |
March 16, 1895 |
| 407 Arachne |
October 13, 1895 |
| 408 Fama |
October 13, 1895 |
| 412 Elisabetha |
January 7, 1896 |
| 413 Edburga |
January 7, 1896 |
| 415 Palatia |
February 7, 1896 |
| 417 Suevia |
May 6, 1896 |
| 418 Alemannia |
September 7, 1896 |
| 419 Aurelia |
September 7, 1896 |
| 420 Bertholda |
September 7, 1896 |
| 421 Zähringia |
September 7, 1896 |
| 434 Hungaria |
September 11, 1898 |
| 435 Ella[1] |
September 11, 1898 |
| 436 Patricia[1] |
September 13, 1898 |
| 442 Eichsfeldia[1] |
February 15, 1899 |
| 443 Photographica[1] |
February 17, 1899 |
| 446 Aeternitas[1] |
October 27, 1899 |
| 447 Valentine[1] |
October 27, 1899 |
| 448 Natalie[1] |
October 27, 1899 |
| 449 Hamburga[1] |
October 31, 1899 |
| 450 Brigitta[1] |
October 10, 1899 |
| 455 Bruchsalia[1] |
May 22, 1900 |
| 456 Abnoba[1] |
June 4, 1900 |
| 457 Alleghenia[1] |
September 15, 1900 |
| 458 Hercynia[1] |
September 21, 1900 |
| 459 Signe |
October 22, 1900 |
| 460 Scania |
October 22, 1900 |
| 461 Saskia |
October 22, 1900 |
| 462 Eriphyla |
October 22, 1900 |
| 463 Lola |
October 31, 1900 |
| 464 Megaira |
January 9, 1901 |
| 465 Alekto |
January 13, 1901 |
| 466 Tisiphone[2] |
January 17, 1901 |
| 467 Laura |
January 9, 1901 |
| 468 Lina |
January 18, 1901 |
| 471 Papagena |
June 7, 1901 |
| 473 Nolli |
February 13, 1901 |
| 474 Prudentia |
February 13, 1901 |
| 480 Hansa[2] |
May 21, 1901 |
| 482 Petrina |
March 3, 1902 |
| 483 Seppina |
March 4, 1902 |
| 484 Pittsburghia |
April 29, 1902 |
| 488 Kreusa[2] |
June 26, 1902 |
| 490 Veritas |
September 3, 1902 |
| 491 Carina |
September 3, 1902 |
| 492 Gismonda |
September 3, 1902 |
| 493 Griseldis |
September 7, 1902 |
| 494 Virtus |
October 7, 1902 |
| 495 Eulalia |
October 25, 1902 |
| 496 Gryphia |
October 25, 1902 |
| 499 Venusia |
December 24, 1902 |
| 500 Selinur |
January 16, 1903 |
| 501 Urhixidur |
January 18, 1903 |
| 502 Sigune |
January 19, 1903 |
| 509 Iolanda |
April 28, 1903 |
| 512 Taurinensis |
June 23, 1903 |
| 513 Centesima |
August 24, 1903 |
| 514 Armida |
August 24, 1903 |
| 515 Athalia |
September 20, 1903 |
| 520 Franziska[3] |
October 27, 1903 |
| 522 Helga |
January 10, 1904 |
| 524 Fidelio |
March 14, 1904 |
| 526 Jena |
March 14, 1904 |
| 527 Euryanthe |
March 20, 1904 |
| 528 Rezia |
March 20, 1904 |
| 529 Preziosa |
March 20, 1904 |
| 530 Turandot |
April 11, 1904 |
| 531 Zerlina |
April 12, 1904 |
| 532 Herculina |
April 20, 1904 |
| 539 Pamina |
August 2, 1904 |
| 540 Rosamunde |
August 3, 1904 |
| 541 Deborah |
August 4, 1904 |
| 549 Jessonda |
November 15, 1904 |
| 550 Senta |
November 16, 1904 |
| 551 Ortrud |
November 16, 1904 |
| 552 Sigelinde |
December 14, 1904 |
| 553 Kundry |
December 27, 1904 |
| 555 Norma |
January 14, 1905 |
| 557 Violetta |
January 26, 1905 |
| 558 Carmen |
February 9, 1905 |
| 559 Nanon |
March 8, 1905 |
| 560 Delila |
March 13, 1905 |
| 561 Ingwelde |
March 26, 1905 |
| 562 Salome |
April 3, 1905 |
| 565 Marbachia |
May 9, 1905 |
| 570 Kythera |
July 30, 1905 |
| 573 Recha |
September 19, 1905 |
| 574 Reginhild |
September 19, 1905 |
| 575 Renate |
September 19, 1905 |
| 577 Rhea |
October 20, 1905 |
| 578 Happelia |
November 1, 1905 |
| 580 Selene |
December 17, 1905 |
| 586 Thekla |
February 21, 1906 |
| 587 Hypsipyle |
February 22, 1906 |
| 588 Achilles |
February 22, 1906 |
| 590 Tomyris |
March 4, 1906 |
| 592 Bathseba |
March 18, 1906 |
| 594 Mireille |
March 27, 1906 |
| 597 Bandusia |
April 16, 1906 |
| 598 Octavia |
April 13, 1906 |
| 601 Nerthus |
June 21, 1906 |
| 605 Juvisia |
August 27, 1906 |
| 609 Fulvia |
September 24, 1906 |
| 610 Valeska |
September 26, 1906 |
| 641 Agnes |
September 8, 1907 |
| 642 Clara |
September 8, 1907 |
| 659 Nestor |
March 23, 1908 |
| 683 Lanzia |
July 23, 1909 |
| 692 Hippodamia[4] |
November 5, 1901 |
| 707 Steïna |
December 22, 1910 |
| 712 Boliviana |
March 19, 1911 |
| 733 Mocia |
September 16, 1912 |
| 798 Ruth |
November 21, 1914 |
| 800 Kressmannia |
March 20, 1915 |
| 801 Helwerthia |
March 20, 1915 |
| 802 Epyaxa |
March 20, 1915 |
| 805 Hormuthia |
April 17, 1915 |
| 806 Gyldenia |
April 18, 1915 |
| 807 Ceraskia |
April 18, 1915 |
| 809 Lundia |
August 11, 1915 |
| 810 Atossa |
September 8, 1915 |
| 811 Nauheima |
September 8, 1915 |
| 813 Baumeia |
November 28, 1915 |
| 815 Coppelia |
February 2, 1916 |
| 816 Juliana |
February 8, 1916 |
| 817 Annika |
February 6, 1916 |
| 818 Kapteynia |
February 21, 1916 |
| 819 Barnardiana |
March 3, 1916 |
| 820 Adriana |
March 30, 1916 |
| 821 Fanny |
March 31, 1916 |
| 822 Lalage |
March 31, 1916 |
| 823 Sisigambis |
March 31, 1916 |
| 826 Henrika |
April 28, 1916 |
| 831 Stateira |
September 20, 1916 |
| 832 Karin |
September 20, 1916 |
| 833 Monica |
September 20, 1916 |
| 834 Burnhamia |
September 20, 1916 |
| 835 Olivia |
September 23, 1916 |
| 836 Jole |
September 23, 1916 |
| 837 Schwarzschilda |
September 23, 1916 |
| 838 Seraphina |
September 24, 1916 |
| 839 Valborg |
September 24, 1916 |
| 840 Zenobia |
September 25, 1916 |
| 841 Arabella |
October 1, 1916 |
| 842 Kerstin |
October 1, 1916 |
| 845 Naëma |
November 16, 1916 |
| 860 Ursina |
January 22, 1917 |
| 861 Aïda |
January 22, 1917 |
| 862 Franzia |
January 28, 1917 |
| 863 Benkoela |
February 9, 1917 |
| 865 Zubaida |
February 15, 1917 |
| 866 Fatme |
February 25, 1917 |
| 868 Lova |
April 26, 1917 |
| 870 Manto |
May 12, 1917 |
| 871 Amneris |
May 14, 1917 |
| 872 Holda |
May 21, 1917 |
| 873 Mechthild |
May 21, 1917 |
| 874 Rotraut |
May 25, 1917 |
| 875 Nymphe |
May 19, 1917 |
| 879 Ricarda |
July 22, 1917 |
| 880 Herba |
July 22, 1917 |
| 881 Athene |
July 22, 1917 |
| 883 Matterania |
September 14, 1917 |
| 884 Priamus |
September 22, 1917 |
| 887 Alinda |
January 3, 1918 |
| 888 Parysatis |
February 2, 1918 |
| 889 Erynia |
March 5, 1918 |
| 890 Waltraut |
March 11, 1918 |
| 891 Gunhild |
May 17, 1918 |
| 892 Seeligeria |
May 31, 1918 |
| 893 Leopoldina |
May 31, 1918 |
| 894 Erda |
June 4, 1918 |
| 895 Helio |
July 11, 1918 |
| 896 Sphinx |
August 1, 1918 |
| 897 Lysistrata |
August 3, 1918 |
| 898 Hildegard |
August 3, 1918 |
| 899 Jokaste |
August 3, 1918 |
| 900 Rosalinde |
August 10, 1918 |
| 901 Brunsia |
August 30, 1918 |
| 904 Rockefellia |
October 29, 1918 |
| 907 Rhoda |
November 12, 1918 |
| 908 Buda |
November 30, 1918 |
| 914 Palisana |
July 4, 1919 |
| 919 Ilsebill |
October 30, 1918 |
| 927 Ratisbona |
February 16, 1920 |
| 946 Poësia |
February 11, 1921 |
| 949 Hel |
March 11, 1921 |
| 972 Cohnia |
January 18, 1922 |
| 1008 La Paz |
October 31, 1923 |
| 1021 Flammario |
March 11, 1924 |
| 1038 Tuckia |
November 24, 1924 |
| 1039 Sonneberga |
November 24, 1924 |
| 1053 Vigdis |
November 16, 1925 |
| 1069 Planckia |
January 28, 1927 |
| 1134 Kepler |
September 25, 1929 |
| 1141 Bohmia |
January 4, 1930 |
| 1169 Alwine[5] |
August 30, 1930 |
| 1178 Irmela |
March 13, 1931 |
| 1179 Mally |
March 19, 1931 |
| 1203 Nanna |
October 5, 1931 |
| 1214 Richilde |
January 1, 1932 |
| 1219 Britta |
February 6, 1932 |
| 1365 Henyey |
September 9, 1928 |
| 1514 Ricouxa |
August 22, 1906 |
| 1661 Granule |
March 31, 1916 |
| 1703 Barry |
September 2, 1930 |
| 1967 Menzel |
November 1, 1905 |
| 2017 Wesson |
September 20, 1903 |
| 2119 Schwall[5] |
August 30, 1930 |
| 2298 Cindijon |
October 2, 1915 |
| 2373 Immo |
August 4, 1929 |
| 2443 Tomeileen |
January 24, 1906 |
| 2483 Guinevere |
August 17, 1928 |
| 2533 Fechtig |
November 3, 1905 |
| 2650 Elinor |
March 14, 1931 |
| 2732 Witt |
March 19, 1926 |
| 3034 Climenhaga |
September 24, 1917 |
| 3202 Graff |
January 3, 1908 |
| 3396 Muazzez |
October 15, 1915 |
| 3626 Ohsaki |
August 4, 1929 |
| 3907 Kilmartin |
August 14, 1904 |
| 4588 Wislicenus |
March 13, 1931 |
| 4775 Hansen |
October 3, 1927 |
| 4809 Robertball |
September 5, 1928 |
| 5702 Morando |
March 16, 1931 |
| 5926 Schönfeld |
August 4, 1929 |
- with Friedrich Karl Arnold Schwassmann
- with Luigi Carnera
- with Paul Götz
- with August Kopff
- with Mario A. Ferrero
|
| Supernovae discovered: 4 |
| SN 1895A (a.k.a. VW Vir) |
|
| SN 1909A (a.k.a. SS UMa) |
|
| SN 1920A |
|
| SN 1926A [1] |
|
- with Karl Wilhelm Reinmuth
|
[edit] Awards and honours
He won the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1914. He won the Bruce Medal in 1930.
Wolf crater on the Moon is named after him, and so is the asteroid 827 Wolfiana.
The Minor Planet Center credits his discoveries as "M. F. Wolf" as opposed to "M. Wolf" that refers to the more recent discoveries by Marek Wolf.
