Hermann Brück facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hermann Brück
CBE FRSE
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| Born | 15 August 1905 |
| Died | 4 March 2000 (aged 94) |
| Alma mater | LMU Munich University of Bonn University of Kiel |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astronomy |
| Institutions | University of Edinburgh Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies University of Cambridge Humboldt University of Berlin |
| Doctoral advisor | Arnold Sommerfeld |
Hermann Alexander Brück (born August 15, 1905 – died March 4, 2000) was a famous astronomer. He was born in Germany but spent most of his life working in Britain and Ireland. He made important discoveries about stars and how we study them.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Hermann Brück was born in Berlin, Germany. His parents were Hermann Heinrich Brück and Margaret.
Young Hermann went to a special school in Berlin. There, he learned a lot about old languages like Latin and Greek. He also had great teachers for math and physics.
From 1924 to 1928, Brück studied at several universities. These included the University of Kiel, the University of Bonn, and the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.
He earned his PhD in 1928 from Munich. His main interest was always astronomy, especially studying the light from stars.
A Career Among the Stars
Starting Out in Germany
After finishing his studies, Brück went to the Potsdam Astrophysical Observatory. There, he joined a group of smart scientists. He even took part in discussions with famous physicists like Albert Einstein.
Moving to New Places
Life became difficult in Germany in 1936. So, Brück left and took a job at the Vatican Observatory.
In 1937, he moved to the University of Cambridge in England. He joined other modern astrophysicists, like Arthur Eddington. Brück became an Assistant Director there. He taught about classical astronomy and started a student astronomy club. This club helped many young astronomers begin their careers.
Leading Observatories
In 1947, Brück moved to Dublin, Ireland. He was invited to lead the Dunsink Observatory. This observatory was part of the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. He even worked with another famous scientist, Erwin Schrödinger.
In 1950, the Dunsink Observatory hosted the first meeting of the Royal Astronomical Society. This was a big event for astronomers.
In 1955, a large international meeting of astronomers happened in Dublin. Brück's team showed off new equipment. This equipment could measure light from stars very quickly. His second wife, Dr. Mary Brück, was a key person in this work.
Astronomer Royal for Scotland
In 1957, Brück moved to the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. He became the Astronomer Royal for Scotland. He worked hard to make the Royal Observatory a top research center.
He put together a team of astronomers and engineers. They created special tools to scan images of stars and galaxies. This new technology helped astronomers study data much faster. It changed how they worked, saving months of time. His team also improved how telescopes could be controlled from far away.
Besides his research, Brück also improved astronomy teaching. In 1967, he started a new degree program called Astrophysics. He also gave students access to the Observatory through their astronomy club. For a time, he was even the Dean of the Faculty of Science.
Later Years and Legacy
Brück retired in 1975. After he retired, his wife, Dr. Mary Brück, started studying the history of astronomy. They wrote a book together about the history of astronomy in Edinburgh.
Throughout his career, Brück was a member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. He passed away at his home in Penicuik, Scotland.
Awards and Recognitions
- Knight Grand Cross of St. Gregory
- 1948 – Member of the Royal Irish Academy
- 1955 – Member of the Akadmie der Wissenschaften und der Literatur, Mainz
- 1958 – Member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
- 1966 – Commander (CBE), Order of the British Empire
Books He Wrote
- Die Sterne: Monatsschrift für alle Gebiete der Himmelskunde (1933)
- The Story of Astronomy in Edinburgh from its beginning until 1975 (1983)
- (with Mary T. Brück) Peripatetic Astronomer, The: Life of Charles Piazzi Smyth (1988)
