Technikatörténeti szemle 13. (1982)
TANULMÁNYOK - ifj. Bartha Lajos: A magyarországi csillagászok szerepe az asztrofizika megalapozásában (1871–1921)
RÖVIDÍTÉSEK AN = Astronomische Nachrichten (Kiel). Ért. Math. Tud. = MTA Értekezések a Mathematikai Tudományok Köréből (A III. Osztály közleményei, Budapest). Idő = Az Időjárás (Budapest). Math. Phys. Lapok = Mathematikai és Physikai Lapok. (A Mathematikai és Physikai Társulat értesítője, Budapest.) MTTÉ = MTA Mathematikai és Természettudományi Értesítő. Budapest. VdAG = Viertel jahrschrift der Astronomische Gesellschaft (Bonn). BAO = Beobachtungen Angestellt am Astrphysikalischen Observatorium in ÓGyalla in Ungarn. (Németül, az utolsó számok magyarul is.) PHO = Publikationen des Haynald Observatoriums Kalocsa. (Németül és magyarul, utolsó szám angolul.) SUMMARY L. BARTHA: THE ROLE OF HUNGARIAN ASTRONOMERS IN LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS OF ASTROPHYSICS In the last quarter of the past century, Hungarian astronomers participated actively and successfully in the development of astrophysics, this new branch of scientific research. Whereas in earlier periods the task of Hungarian astronomers was restricted mainly to taking over and furthering the results achieved in Western Europe, towards the end of the century Hungarian astrophysicists came forward with independent initiatives and novel issues. This is well demonstrated by the number of Hungarian publications and of the references to Hungarian results made by other researchers. In that period, 7... 10% of the papers published in Astronomische Nachrichten (a journal appearing in Germany but of international character) were written by Hungarian authors, but almost half of the papers on observations of comet spectra was the work of Miklós KONKOLYTHEGE and Jenő GOTHARD. Some decline of Hungarian activities in the last decade of the past century was due above all to financial reasons. In the beginnings of astrophysics, the costs of individual instruments for astrophysical observations did not exceed the limit that a private person considered wealthy (in the Hungarian relation) could afford. However, from the middle of the 'eighties of the past century on, mammoth observatories — most of them still belonging to the largest — were established in rapid succession in Western Europe and above all in the United States. Not even the richest Hungarian private person or ecclesiastic body could compete with these institutes founded by millionaires, supported by huge funds and in most cases subsidized by the state too. None the less, outstanding results were achieved: J. GOTHARD's activities in astrophotography, KONKOLY-THEGE's and Radó Kö VESLIGETHY's work in cataloguing astral spectra, B. HARKANYI's, A. TASS's and L. TERKÁN's astrophotometric measurements and finally R. KÖ VESLI GETH Y's and B. HARKANYI's research on the physical characteristics of stars should be mentioned. Development was practically wrecked by World War I. However, it is noteworthy that the Hungarian State Observatory reestablished in Budapest, in 1921, continued work essentially on these lines.
