Johann Karl Friedrich Zöllner
Encyclopedia
Johann Karl Friedrich Zöllner (1834 – 1882) was a German
astrophysicist who studied optical illusion
s. He invented the Zöllner illusion
where lines that are parallel appear diagonal. The lunar Zöllner crater
is named in his honor. He also successfully proved Christian Doppler
's theory on the effect of motion of the color of stars, and the resulting shift of absorption lines, via the invention of a very sensitive spectroscope which he named "Reversionspectroscope". He had shown also that the red-shift was in addition caused by variation in the stars' lights intensities with the help of his "Astrophotometer" (1865). Zollner became convinced in the reality of a fourth dimension after succumbing to the spiritualist trickery of the notorious medium Henry Slade
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
astrophysicist who studied optical illusion
Optical illusion
An optical illusion is characterized by visually perceived images that differ from objective reality. The information gathered by the eye is processed in the brain to give a perception that does not tally with a physical measurement of the stimulus source...
s. He invented the Zöllner illusion
Zollner illusion
The Zöllner illusion is a classic optical illusion named after its discoverer, German astrophysicist Johann Karl Friedrich Zöllner. In 1860, Zöllner sent his discovery in a letter to physicist and scholar Johann Christian Poggendorff, editor of Annalen der Physik und Chemie, who subsequently...
where lines that are parallel appear diagonal. The lunar Zöllner crater
Zöllner (crater)
Zöllner is a lunar impact crater located to the west of Sinus Asperitatis. To the north is the smaller crater Alfraganus and to the northwest lies the oval-shaped Taylor. Southeast of Zöllner is the smaller crater Kant....
is named in his honor. He also successfully proved Christian Doppler
Christian Doppler
Christian Andreas Doppler was an Austrian mathematician and physicist.-Life and work:Christian Doppler was raised in Salzburg, Austria, the son of a stonemason. Doppler could not work in his father's business because of his generally weak physical condition...
's theory on the effect of motion of the color of stars, and the resulting shift of absorption lines, via the invention of a very sensitive spectroscope which he named "Reversionspectroscope". He had shown also that the red-shift was in addition caused by variation in the stars' lights intensities with the help of his "Astrophotometer" (1865). Zollner became convinced in the reality of a fourth dimension after succumbing to the spiritualist trickery of the notorious medium Henry Slade
Henry Slade
Henry Slade was a famous and infamous Victorian psychic who lived and practiced in both Europe and North America. Dr. Henry Slade was prosecuted for fraud on October 1, 1876 in London, England and found guilty...
.