Professors of Astronomy until 1973

Eduard Freiherr von Haerdtl (1861–1897) was the first astronomer at the University of Innsbruck.

Born in Vienna, he was appointed professor at Innsbruck in 1888 because, as a purely theoretical astronomer, he did not need an observatory.

Haerdtl died of pneumonia on March 19, 1897.

Egon von Oppolzer (1869–1907) took up his professorship of astronomy in Innsbruck in 1901 and was the founder of the observatory in Hötting. He financed the building and most of the instruments with his private money.

However, he died in 1907 from blood poisoning contracted while gardening. He was not able to exploit the potential of his observatory scientifically.

Adalbert Prey (1873–1949) was a Professor of Astronomy at the University of Innsbruck from 1909 to 1917.

In addition to teaching courses, he was mainly involved in getting the observatory's instruments ready for operation. During his time, the first images were taken with the 40 cm academy reflector.

Prey left Innsbruck in 1917 to take up a full professorship at the German University in Prague.

Arthur Scheller (1876–1928) took up his post at the University of Innsbruck in 1918.

He tried to realize an urgently needed expansion of the observatory, unfortunately without success.

From 1920 onwards, an increasingly severe nervous disorder led to complete blindness, and in his final years he was only able to maintain his teaching activities with the help of his assistant.

Scheller died in September 1929 after years of illness.

Viktor Oberguggenberger (1893–1963) worked as an assistant to Scheller at the observatory from 1921 and was appointed associate professor in 1929.

In addition to some scientific work, Oberguggenberger mainly carried out investigations of the performance of the existing instruments.

In 1930, he contracted polio, leaving his right side paralyzed for life. Despite this handicap, he continued to work until 1956. He repeatedly pushed for the first extension to the observatory and was finally able to complete it after more than 20 years of effort.

Josef Fuchs (1904–1989) was a Professor of Astronomy from 1958 to 1972.

It was thanks to him that the observatory was extended in 1968/69 and the Zeiss-Coudé refractor telescope was purchased in 1972.

In addition to his work at the Institute of Astronomy, Fuchs was also a member of the university senate and dean of the Faculty of Philosophy.