''Vereinigte Astronomische Gesellschaft'' (VAG) was an international
astronomical
Astronomy () is a natural science that studies celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and evolution. Objects of interest include planets, moons, stars, nebulae, galaxi ...
society founded in 1800.
History
International cooperation in astronomy started with a first meeting of 15 European astronomers in
Gotha
Gotha () is the fifth-largest city in Thuringia, Germany, west of Erfurt and east of Eisenach with a population of 44,000. The city is the capital of the Gotha (district), district of Gotha and was also a residence of the Ernestine House of Wet ...
in 1798. The society was founded two years in
Lilienthal, near Bremen, to organize the compilation of ecliptic star charts, with more than half of the members originated from non-German speaking countries. In the same year ''
Monatliche Correspondenz'' (monthly correspondence) was founded in 1800 by
Franz Xaver von Zach
Baron Franz Xaver von Zach (''Franz Xaver Freiherr von Zach''; 4 June 1754 – 2 September 1832) was a Hungarian astronomer born at Pest, Hungary (now Budapest in Hungary).
Biography
Zach studied physics at the Royal University of Pest, and s ...
to publish results.
In 1845, the society published the ''
Berliner Akademische Sternkarten'' (Berlin academic star maps).
See also
* ''
Astronomische Gesellschaft
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The ''Astronomische Gesellschaft'' is an astronomical society established in 1863 in Heidelberg, the second oldest astronomical society after the Royal Astronomical Society.
In 1882, the ''Astronomische Gesellschaft'' founded the Centra ...
''
*
List of astronomical societies
A list of notable groups devoted to promoting astronomy research and education.
Africa
* African Astronomical Society
South Africa
*Astronomical Society of Southern Africa
Asia
China
* Chinese Astronomical Society
India
* Akash Mitra Mandal
*A ...
*
Celestial police
The celestial police (german: Himmelspolizey), officially the United Astronomical Society (german: Vereinigte Astronomische Gesellschaft, VAG), were an informal group of astronomers working in the early 19th century with the express purpose of f ...
References
Further reading
* Wolfgang R. Dick,
Jürgen Hamel
Jürgen Hamel (born 6 June 1951) is a German astronomy historian. His research areas are the history of astronomy in the Middle Ages and the early modern period, the period around 1800, the history of astrophysics, astronomy and cultural history, ...
(ed.): ''Astronomie von Olbers bis Schwarzschild. Nationale Entwicklungen und internationale Beziehungen im 19. Jahrhundert.'' (
Acta Historica Astronomiae ; 14). Thun ; Frankfurt am Main: Deutsch, 2002, 243 p.,
Internationality from the VAG (1800) to the ''Astronomische Gesellschaft''.
{{Portal bar, Germany, Astronomy, Stars, Spaceflight, Outer space, Solar System, Education, Science
Astronomy organizations
Organizations established in 1800