Konkoly Thege, Miklós von

(b Budapest, Hungary, 20 January 1842; d. Budapest, 17 February 1916)

astronomy, geophysics

Konkoly Thege was the son of Elek Konkoly Thege and Klára Földváry. He first studied law but at the same time eagerly attended lectures in science at Budapest. After a short time in the civil service he moved to Berlin, where he received the Ph. D. in astronomy in 1862. He then returned to Hungary and earned a captain’s certificate on the Danube steamship line.

In 1869 Konkoly Thege establlished a small astronomical observatory at his country estate at Ógyalla. In 1874 he expanded it to include a mechanical workshop. His largest instrument was a ten-inch refractor.

Konkoly Thege was chiefly interested in the new methods of celestial photography and astrophysics— especially spectroscopy. At this stage in these disciplines, each observer had to construct his own instruments and prepare the photographic materials. Konkoly Thege’s works contain valuable notes and comments on the conditions and procedures of the time.

Konkoly Thege not only corresponded with the leading scientists, but his personal fortune enabled him to travel widely and visit most of the European observatories and instrument workshops. He in turn entertained many famous astronomers at Ógyalla. Among the young astronomers who worked at Ógyalla was Kobold.

In 1898, Konkoly Thege presented his observatory to the Hungarian government, together with the founds necessary to ensure its continuation. The observatory remained at Ógyalla until 1919, when the instruments became the basis for the new Budapest observatory.

From 1890 Konkoly Thege directed the Hungarian Meteorological Service, a task he undertook with his characteristic energy. After 1891, forecasts were sent out by telegraph. In September 1900 a meterorologica- magnetic observatory was in operation, and by 1910 a central station was established in Budapest. He retired in 1911.

Konkoly Thege married Erzsébet Madarassy, who died in 1919. Their two children died in early childhood.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

See Praktische Anleitung zur Anstellung astronomischer Beobachtungen mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Astrophysik nebst moderner Instrumentenkunde (Brunswick, 1883), Beobachtungen am Astrophysikalischen Observatorium in Ógyalla in Ungarn, 16 vols. (Halle, 1879-1893); Praktische Anleitung zur Himmelsphotographie (Halle, 1887); Handbuch für Spectroscopiker im Cabinet und am Fernrohr (Halle, 1890).

Many short notes appear in Astronomische Nachrichten,80-190 (1873-1913), concerning spectroscopic observations of meteorites and comets; there are also many Hungarian papers, especially 160 állócsillag szinképs (Bdapepst, 1877).

H. C. Freiesleben