Gyula Fényi

Hungary 1845-1927

Gyula Fényi, also known as Julius Fényi, was born in Sopron Hungary, in 1845 and joined the Jesuit order in 1864. (1)  His first name, Gyula, or Julius, was actually the name he took upon becoming a Jesuit. (2) As a Jesuit, he learned natural science in addition to his theological and humanities studies. (2) Fényi hoped to become a missionary, but that was never to be and instead he joined the Kalocsa Observatory.(2)

After some years he became the director of the Observatory, serving from 1885 to 1913 and taking solar observations regularly with a spectrometer (1). It was a humble post, not at all like the setting he had dreamed of, and longed for. (2) But he was obedient to his superiors and faithfully recorded solar measurements as was his duty. The Observatory had been commissioned by the Archbishop of Kalocsa, Ludwig Haynald, in 1878 so the structure itself was relatively new, though the instruments were moderate, at most. (1, 2)

Fényi kept detailed records of his solar observations for thirty two years, though that hardly conveys his dedication to this seemingly monotonous, or onerous, task. (1) A large component of Fényi’s work was creating detailed “almost artistic” drawings filled with meticulous detail that many other astronomers neglected. (2) These drawings are of special importance as they are from the final period in which it was necessary to create scientific drawings, as cameras were not yet readily available. (2)

Solar research, and astronomy in general, was a common theme in the Jesuit order. (2) They often had to make do with relatively limited equipment. (2) Fényi decided he was going to be deeply involved in his work, making observations from 1885 until 1913 in a highly regulated manner. (2) His work included datasheets as well as drawings. He did not simply record numbers, but spent long hours creating amazingly intricate sketches. (2) The general policy was to ignore any solar prominence that appeared to be less than thirty seconds, about eight tenths of a percent of a degree, yet Fényi was willing to include even such minutiae, thereby giving us an insight into the sun’s general slightly uneven shape. (2)

His work brings to light what the sun did over those three decades, providing examples of all the solar prominences, loops of the sun extending out into space, and showing the complex detail in each occurrence. (2) As a result, Fény’s data was extremely valuable. Indeed, it formed a third of Pettit’s basis for his statistical analysis of solar prominences in the 1920s. (1)

In addition to his solar recordings, which he documented several times a day, Fényi also observed sunspots and was also a meteorologist. Fényi theorized the solar prominences he observed affected terrestrial weather, an idea which has ultimately been borne out. (2) Fényi published his various theories and observations in a variety of magazines, eventually creating over 200 papers to catalogue his knowledge. (1) While he was conducting solar observations Fényi left Kalocsa only once for an extended period, in August 1905 to observe a total solar eclipse in Granada, Spain. (1)

To honor his prodigious work, the International Astronomical Union named a lunar crater ‘Fényi’. (1) His extensive drawings are housed in the Hungarian Sciences Academy, in Debrecen Hungary. His work is monumentally inspiring because it demonstrates the possibilities with perseverance and enthusiasm for your work. His life is also an important lesson to know when to ignore your dreams of glory and adventure and excel at your job, whatever that might be.

Works Referenced

1. Short Biography of Julius Fényi http://fenyi.solarobs.csfk.mta.hu/fenyi.html
2. The “Light” Phenomenon: Gyula Fényi and Jesuit Astronomy II. part https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=hu&u=https://www.csillagaszat.hu/csilltort/magyar-csillagaszattortenet/magyar-19-20-sz-csillagaszata/a-8222-fenyi-8221-jelenseg-fenyi-gyula-es-a-jezsuita-csillagaszat-br-ii-resz/&prev=search  
3. What is a solar prominence? https://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/what-is-a-solar-prominence