Johann Palisa

Johann Palisa
File:Johann Palisa Plaque.jpg
Born	(1848-12-06)December 6, 1848 Troppau
Died
Nationality	Austrian
Fields	astronomy
Institutions	University of Vienna
Known for	asteroids
Notable awards	Lalande Prize, 1876 Valz Prize, 1906

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 minor planet 914 Palisana and the lunar crater Palisa were named in his honour. He was awarded the Valz Prize from the French Academy of Sciences in 1906.

Early work

A view of the City of Pula

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 Pula. While at Pula, 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 Pula he used a small six-inch refractor telescope to aid in his research.

Astronomy discoveries

Between 1874 and 1923 Palisa discovered 122 asteroids ranging from 136 Austria to 1073 Gellivara. He worked from Pola and Vienna. He also discovered the comet C/1879 Q1 in the year 1879. 14309 Defoy has a higher mp number but was discovered in 1908 by Palisa.

One of his discoveries was 253 Mathilde, which was visited by the spacecraft NEAR Shoemaker on June 27, 1997 The robotic probe passed within 1200 km of Mathilde at 12:56 UT at 9.93 km/s, returning imaging and other instrument data including over 500 images which covered 60% of Mathilde's surface.

253 Mathilde as imaged by NEAR, less than 110 years after discovered by Palisa

External links

• Portraits of Johann Palisa from the Lick Observatory Records Digital Archive, UC Santa Cruz Library's Digital Collections

Obituaries

Asteroids discovered: 122

136 Austria	March 18, 1874
137 Meliboea	April 21, 1874
140 Siwa	October 13, 1874
142 Polana	January 28, 1875
143 Adria	February 23, 1875
151 Abundantia	November 1, 1875
153 Hilda	November 2, 1875
155 Scylla	November 8, 1875
156 Xanthippe	November 22, 1875
178 Belisana	November 6, 1877
182 Elsa	February 7, 1878
183 Istria	February 8, 1878
184 Dejopeja	February 28, 1878
192 Nausikaa	February 17, 1879
195 Eurykleia	April 19, 1879
197 Arete	May 21, 1879
201 Penelope	August 7, 1879
204 Kallisto	October 8, 1879
205 Martha	October 13, 1879
207 Hedda	October 17, 1879
208 Lacrimosa	October 21, 1879
210 Isabella	November 12, 1879
211 Isolda	December 10, 1879
212 Medea	February 6, 1880
214 Aschera	February 29, 1880
216 Kleopatra	April 10, 1880
218 Bianca	September 4, 1880
219 Thusnelda	September 30, 1880
220 Stephania	May 19, 1881
221 Eos	January 18, 1882
222 Lucia	February 9, 1882
223 Rosa	March 9, 1882
224 Oceana	March 30, 1882
225 Henrietta	April 19, 1882
226 Weringia	July 19, 1882
228 Agathe	August 19, 1882
229 Adelinda	August 22, 1882
231 Vindobona	September 10, 1882
232 Russia	January 31, 1883
235 Carolina	November 28, 1883
236 Honoria	April 26, 1884
237 Coelestina	June 27, 1884
239 Adrastea	August 18, 1884
242 Kriemhild	September 22, 1884
243 Ida	September 29, 1884
244 Sita	October 14, 1884
248 Lameia	June 5, 1885
250 Bettina	September 3, 1885
251 Sophia	October 4, 1885
253 Mathilde	November 12, 1885
254 Augusta	March 31, 1886
255 Oppavia	March 31, 1886
256 Walpurga	April 3, 1886
257 Silesia	April 5, 1886
260 Huberta	October 3, 1886
262 Valda	November 3, 1886
263 Dresda	November 3, 1886
265 Anna	February 25, 1887
266 Aline	May 17, 1887
269 Justitia	September 21, 1887
273 Atropos	March 8, 1888
274 Philagoria	April 3, 1888
275 Sapientia	April 15, 1888
276 Adelheid	April 17, 1888
278 Paulina	May 16, 1888
279 Thule	October 25, 1888
280 Philia	October 29, 1888
281 Lucretia	October 31, 1888
286 Iclea	August 3, 1889
290 Bruna	March 20, 1890
291 Alice	April 25, 1890
292 Ludovica	April 25, 1890
295 Theresia	August 17, 1890
299 Thora	October 6, 1890
301 Bavaria	November 16, 1890
304 Olga	February 14, 1891
309 Fraternitas	April 6, 1891
313 Chaldaea	August 30, 1891
315 Constantia	September 4, 1891
320 Katharina	October 11, 1891
321 Florentina	October 15, 1891
324 Bamberga	February 25, 1892
326 Tamara	March 19, 1892
569 Misa	July 27, 1905
583 Klotilde	December 31, 1905
652 Jubilatrix	November 4, 1907
671 Carnegia	September 21, 1908
687 Tinette	August 16, 1909
688 Melanie	August 25, 1909
689 Zita	September 12, 1909
703 Noëmi	October 3, 1910
710 Gertrud	February 28, 1911
711 Marmulla	March 1, 1911
716 Berkeley	July 30, 1911
718 Erida	September 29, 1911
719 Albert	October 3, 1911
722 Frieda	October 18, 1911
723 Hammonia	October 21, 1911
724 Hapag	October 21, 1911
725 Amanda	October 21, 1911
728 Leonisis	February 16, 1912
730 Athanasia	April 10, 1912
734 Benda	October 11, 1912
750 Oskar	April 28, 1913
782 Montefiore	March 18, 1914
783 Nora	March 18, 1914
794 Irenaea	August 27, 1914
795 Fini	September 26, 1914
803 Picka	March 21, 1915
827 Wolfiana	August 29, 1916
828 Lindemannia	August 29, 1916
867 Kovacia	February 25, 1917
876 Scott	June 20, 1917
902 Probitas	September 3, 1918
903 Nealley	September 13, 1918
932 Hooveria	March 23, 1920
941 Murray	October 10, 1920
964 Subamara	October 27, 1921
975 Perseverantia	March 27, 1922
996 Hilaritas	March 21, 1923
1073 Gellivara	September 14, 1923
14309 Defoy	September 22, 1908