Paul Guthnick

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Paul Guthnick (January 12, 1879—September 6, 1947) was a German astronomer.

Born in Hitdorf am Rhein, he worked from 1901 at the Royal Observatory of Berlin. He studied variable stars and studied Mira (Ceti). As Berlin expanded, it became less possible to conduct astronomical observations there and Guthnick used, from 1906 onwards, the local park known as Babelsberg. An observatory was later built there after approval by the government. He was appointed professor of astrophysics at the University of Berlin in 1916. In 1921, he became director of the Babelsberg Observatory.

He conducted observations of the stars of the Southern Hemisphere on an expedition to Windhoek in 1929. After the seizure of power by the Nazis in 1933, Guthnick adapted himself to new conditions under the regime, although he opposed the Welteislehre theories that were favored by Himmler.

He died in Berlin.

Guthnick crater was named after him in 1970.