Hilmar Duerbeck: 1948 – 2012

Today I learned that German astronomer and astronomy historian Hilmar Duerbeck has died yesterday. As an astronomer he worked in the fields of cataclysmic variables, contact binaries and final helium flash objects. But Hilmar was also an expert on the history of the nineteenth century expeditions to observe the transit of Venus, especially the German operations, and was always available to share his knowledge or do some more research. Less then three weeks ago, he generously helped me with finding pictures of the remains of the 1874 German station on Auckland Island, typed (by hand!) a couple of excerpts from Hermann Krone’s Vater und Sohn auf der Welt-Reise and provided for a better picture of the 1874 German expedition at Isfahan.

Hilmar’s selfless character will be greatly missed.