Heinrich Wilhelm Matthias Olbers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Heinrich Wilhelm Matthias Olbers
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Lithograph by Rudolph Suhrlandt
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| Born | 11 October 1758 Arbergen, Holy Roman Empire
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| Died | 2 March 1840 (aged 81) |
| Nationality | German |
| Known for | Olbers' paradox Pallas Vesta |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Medicine Astronomy |
Heinrich Wilhelm Matthias Olbers (born October 11, 1758 – died March 2, 1840) was a German doctor and a famous astronomer. He is known for discovering two asteroids, Pallas and Vesta, and for a special idea about why the night sky is dark, called Olbers' paradox.
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Life and Discoveries of Olbers
Heinrich Olbers was born in Arbergen, Germany. This place is now part of the city of Bremen. He studied to become a doctor at the University of Göttingen from 1777 to 1780. While he was there, he also studied mathematics.
In 1779, Olbers came up with a new way to figure out the paths of comets. This was a very important discovery for astronomy. After he finished his studies in 1780, he started working as a doctor in Bremen.
At night, Olbers spent his time observing the stars and planets. He even turned the top floor of his home into an observatory. This was his private place to study the sky.
Joining the Celestial Police
In 1800, Olbers was invited to join a group of 24 astronomers. They were called the "celestial police." Their goal was to search for new planets in our solar system.
On March 28, 1802, Olbers made an exciting discovery. He found and named the asteroid called Pallas. Five years later, on March 29, 1807, he discovered another asteroid, Vesta. He let his friend, Carl Friedrich Gauss, name this one.
At that time, the word "asteroid" didn't exist yet. So, people called these small objects "planets." Olbers thought that the asteroid belt, where these objects are found, was once a larger planet that had broken apart. Today, most scientists believe that the strong gravity of Jupiter stopped a planet from forming in that area.
Discovering a Comet and Olbers' Paradox
On March 6, 1815, Olbers discovered a comet that returns regularly. It is now named after him and is called 13P/Olbers.
In 1823, Olbers described a famous idea known as Olbers' paradox. He updated this idea in 1826. The paradox asks: if the universe is infinite and full of stars, why is the night sky dark? This question made people think deeply about the universe.
Working with Other Scientists
In July 1804, a young scientist named Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel contacted Olbers. Bessel wanted Olbers' opinion on his work about calculating the path of Halley's Comet. Olbers was very impressed by Bessel's work and helped him get it published.
Olbers was also recognized by many important scientific groups. In 1804, he became a member of the Royal Society of London. He also became a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1809 and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1822. In 1827, he joined the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
Heinrich Olbers passed away in Bremen at the age of 81. He was married twice and had one son who survived him.
Honors and Legacy
Several things in space are named after Heinrich Olbers to honor his contributions:
- The periodic comet 13P/Olbers
- The minor planet 1002 Olbersia
- A crater on the Moon called Olbers
- A feature on the surface of the asteroid Vesta, also named Olbers
There is also a statue of Olbers in Bremen, which was made in 1850.
Works
- (in de) Abhandlung über die leichteste und bequemste Methode die Bahn eines Cometen zu berechnen. Weimar: Verlag des Industrie-Comptoirs. 1797. https://mdz-nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:12-bsb10060617-2.
See also
In Spanish: Heinrich Olbers para niños
