Karl Ludwig Hencke
Karl Ludwig Hencke (born April 8, 1793 in Driesen , † September 21, 1866 in Marienwerder ) was a German amateur astronomer and discoverer of the asteroids Asträa and Hebe.
Life
In 1813 Hencke volunteered in the war of liberation against Napoléon Bonaparte and was already seriously wounded in the battle of Großgörschen . He later worked as a postal secretary in various places in Prussia , most recently in Friedeberg in the Neumark . From 1837 he was retired and was able to devote himself entirely to his favorite pastime, astronomy .
On December 8, 1845, he discovered the fifth asteroid in the solar system , Astraea . It is noteworthy that almost forty years had passed since the discovery of the fourth asteroid Vesta in 1807. In 1847 Hencke also discovered the sixth asteroid, which he named Hebe . These two discoveries gave rise to numerous other observations, and many more minor planets were discovered as a result.
Hencke was working on one of the Berlin academic star maps.
Karl Ludwig Hencke died on September 21, 1866 on a trip near Marienwerder.
The asteroid (2005) Hencke bears his name.
See also
literature
- Karl Christian Bruhns : Hencke, Karl Ludwig . In: Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie (ADB). Volume 11, Duncker & Humblot, Leipzig 1880, p. 756.
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Hencke, Karl Ludwig |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | German amateur astronomer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | April 8, 1793 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Driesen |
| DATE OF DEATH | September 21, 1866 |
| Place of death | Marienwerder |