Joseph Stepling (29 June 1716 − 11 July 1778) was a Bohemian Jesuit priest, astronomer, physicist, and mathematician. Stepling founded the

Clementinum The Clementinum (''Klementinum'' in Czech) is a historic complex of buildings in Prague. Until recently the complex hosted the National, University and Technical libraries; the City Library was also nearby on Mariánské Náměstí. In 2009, th ...

Observatory in Prague in 1751 fitted with the best instruments available in that period, some made by Jan Klein. The earliest instrumental meteorological observations in central Europe were made at this observatory. The minor planet 6540 Stepling is named in his honour. Stepling was born in Regensburg and after the death of his father who came from Westphalia and worked at the Imperial Embassy at Ratisbon, his mother moved to her home in Prague. He attended the local Jesuit school and joined the order in 1733. He took an interest in mathematics and astronomy from the teachings of Father Sykora and took a special interest during the lunar eclipse of March 28, 1733 which he had been able to predict. He was influenced into further studies by the mathematician Ignatz Mühlwenzel. He taught at the Gymnasiums of Klodzko and Swidnica from 1738 to 1741. Empress Maria Theresa appointed him faculty at Prague. In 1753 he taught mathematics and physics at the

Charles-Ferdinand University ) , image_name = Carolinum_Logo.svg , image_size = 200px , established = , type = Public, Ancient , budget = 8.9 billion CZK , rector = Milena Králíčková , faculty = 4,057 , administrative_staff = 4,026 , students = 51,438 , underg ...

, following the ideas of

Isaac Newton Sir Isaac Newton (25 December 1642 – 20 March 1726/27) was an English mathematician, physicist, astronomer, alchemist, theologian, and author (described in his time as a " natural philosopher"), widely recognised as one of the grea ...

, Christian Wolff, and Euler rather than Aristotle. He founded a study group along the lines of the Royal Society of London and conducted monthly meetings presiding over them until his death and influencing numerous young scientists including Johann Wendlingen, Jakob Heinisch, Antonin Strnad, Johannes von Herberstein, Kaspar Sagner, Stephan Schmidt, Johann Körber, and Joseph Bergmann. Some of the oldest series of temperatures used in climate change studies come from the Clementinum observatory.

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Biography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stepling, Joseph 1716 births 1778 deaths 18th-century mathematicians Czech astronomers Academic staff of Charles University Jesuit scientists