12 Facts About Gottfried Kirch

Gottfried Kirch worked as a calendar-maker in Saxonia and Franconia.

Gottfried Kirch began to learn astronomy with Erhard Weigel in Jena, and with Hevelius in Danzig.

In Danzig in 1667, Gottfried Kirch published calendars and built several telescopes and instruments.

Gottfried Kirch became an astronomer working in Coburg, Leipzig and Guben as well from 1700 in Berlin.

Gottfried Kirch dedicated much time to observing the double star Mizar.

Gottfried Kirch introduced three new constellations, the "Globus cruciger", the "Electoral Sword" and the Sceptre of Brandenburg, which however were not recognized and adopted by the International Astronomical Union.

Gottfried Kirch was assisted in the calculations by his second wife and their children.

Gottfried Kirch's Calendars are noted additionally for the announcement of both his own results as well as results from abroad.

Gottfried Kirch promoted the idea that all astronomers should send their observations to a central location where they could be published as soon as possible.

Gottfried Kirch considered Frankfurt am Main to be the ideal location, for one because of the Messe and on the other hand because of its easy connection to the Netherlands via the Rivers Main and Rhine.

Gottfried Kirch died in Berlin at the age of seventy.

Gottfried Kirch published his calendar, Philosophical Transactions, an Acta Eruditorum and Miscellanea Berolinensia.