Johann Palisa

Infobox Scientist
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birth_date = December 6 1848
birth_place = Troppau
death_date = May 2 1925
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nationality = Austrian
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field = astronomy
work_institutions = University of Vienna
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known_for = asteroids
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Johann Palisa (December 6 1848–May 2 1925) was an Austrian astronomer, born in Troppau in Austrian Silesia (now in the Czech Republic).

He was a prolific discoverer of asteroids, discovering 122 in all, from 136 Austria in 1874 to 1073 Gellivara in 1923. Some of his notable discoveries include 153 Hilda, 216 Kleopatra, 243 Ida, 253 Mathilde, 324 Bamberga, and the Amor asteroid 719 Albert.

The asteroid 914 Palisana and the Palisa crater on the Moon were named in his honour.

Early work

From 1866 to 1870, Palisa studied mathematics and astronomy at the University of Vienna; however, he did not graduate until 1884. Despite this, by 1870 he was an assistant at the University's observatory, and a year later gained a position at the observatory in Geneva. A few years later, in 1872, at the age of 24, Palisa became the director of the Austrian Naval Observatory in Pola. While at Pola, he discovered his first asteroid, 136 Austria, on March 18, 1874. Along with this, he discovered twenty-seven minor planets and one comet. During his stay in Pola he used a small six-inch refractor telescope to aid in his research.

External links

* cite web
url = http://www.astrometrica.at/Papers/Palisa.pdf
format = PDF
title = Johann Palisa, the most successful visual discoverer of asteroids
author = Herbert Raab

Obituaries

* cite journal | url = http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1925AN....225..125V
author = von Hepperger, J.
title = Anzeige des Todes von Johann Palisa
journal = Astronomische Nachrichten
date = November 1925
volume = 225
pages = 125–127 | doi = 10.1002/asna.19252250706

Persondata
NAME= Palisa, Johann
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Austrian astronomer
DATE OF BIRTH=December 6 1848
PLACE OF BIRTH=Troppau in Austrian Silesia
DATE OF DEATH=May 2 1925
PLACE OF DEATH=