Cuno Hoffmeister

Cuno Hoffmeister
Born(1892-02-02)2 February 1892
Sonneberg, Saxe-Meiningen, German Empire
Died2 January 1968(1968-01-02) (aged 75)
Sonneberg, East Germany
NationalityGerman
Alma materUniversity of Jena
Known forVariable stars
Scientific career
FieldsAstronomy
InstitutionsSonneberg Observatory
Remeis Observatory

Cuno Hoffmeister (2 February 1892 – 2 January 1968) was a German astronomer, observer and discoverer of variable stars, comets and minor planets, and founder of Sonneberg Observatory.[1][2][3]

Born in Sonneberg in 1892 to Carl and Marie Hoffmeister, Cuno Hoffmeister obtained his first telescope in 1905 and became an avid amateur astronomer. After his father lost most of his money in 1914, Hoffmeister had to leave school in 1916 to start an apprenticeship in his father's company. During this time he continued to study spherical mathematics and trigonometry. In April 1915 he had the opportunity to substitute as the assistant of Ernst Hartwig at Remeis Observatory in Bamberg while the current holder of the position was drafted, mainly working on observations of meteors and variable stars. He held this position until the end of the war and then moved back to Sonneberg, where he made his Abitur in 1920.[1]

After studying at the University of Jena, while at the same time continuing to work in his job as a tradesman, Hoffmeister obtained his doctorate in 1927. During this time he had already started building what was to become Sonneberg Observatory. After his PhD, he moved back to Sonneberg and started expanding the observatory. Hoffmeister remained at the observatory until his death, even though the observatory lost most of its equipment after World War II and he was disowned as the observatory became part of East Germany's academy of sciences. Hoffmeister served as the director of the observatory until his death. During his life he played a leading role in supporting amateurs in observations of noctilucent clouds, aurorae, and nightglow.[1]

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Encyclopedia-of-Astronomers was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference springer-1726-Hoffmeister was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference springer-4183-Cuno was invoked but never defined (see the help page).