Nebel und Sternhaufen

Dr Wolfgang Steinicke studied physics and mathematics in Germany. He specialised in General Relativity and Quantum Field Theory. Already in his youth, he observed the sky with telescopes. Later his interest focused on the New General Catalogue, which essentially rests upon observations by William and John Herschel. The research on non-stellar objects, their data and historical sources led to comprehensive catalogues, including a revision of the NGC and its supplements. In 2008, he received a PhD at Hamburg University with a thesis on nineteenth century deep-sky observations, published 2010 by Cambridge University Press as Observing and Cataloguing Nebulae and Star Clusters: From Herschel to Dreyer's New General Catalogue. Steinicke is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, director of the History of Astronomy section of the German Vereinigung der Sternfreunde, committee member of the British Webb Deep Sky Society and works for international associations. He frequently organizes astronomy meetings and gives talks or courses all over the world. Steinicke is the author of nine books (German and English) and has published more than 300 scientific articles. Currently he writes a comprehensive book about William Herschel and his observations.