Christian Gärtner
Encyclopedia
Christian Gärtner was a German telescope maker and astronomer, noted for his observation of the 1758 return of Halley's Comet.
Gärtner was born at Tolkewitz near Dresden
and even as a child had a passion for the stars. He earned his living as a cloth-bleacher and spent his income on astronomical equipment and books. Later, he learned to grind his own lenses and manufactured and sold telescopes.
In December 1758 (simultaneously with Johann Georg Palitzsch
) Gärtner observed the return of Halley's Comet, predicted by Edmond Halley
in 1705.
Gärtner died a pauper in 1782 and was buried in Leuben
cemetery.
and by 132445 Gaertner
, an asteroid.
Gärtner was born at Tolkewitz near Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
and even as a child had a passion for the stars. He earned his living as a cloth-bleacher and spent his income on astronomical equipment and books. Later, he learned to grind his own lenses and manufactured and sold telescopes.
In December 1758 (simultaneously with Johann Georg Palitzsch
Johann Georg Palitzsch
Johann Georg Palitzsch was a German astronomer who became famous for recovering Comet 1P/Halley on Christmas Day, 1758...
) Gärtner observed the return of Halley's Comet, predicted by Edmond Halley
Edmond Halley
Edmond Halley FRS was an English astronomer, geophysicist, mathematician, meteorologist, and physicist who is best known for computing the orbit of the eponymous Halley's Comet. He was the second Astronomer Royal in Britain, following in the footsteps of John Flamsteed.-Biography and career:Halley...
in 1705.
Gärtner died a pauper in 1782 and was buried in Leuben
Leuben
Leuben is a district of the German city of Dresden....
cemetery.
Eponymy
Gärtner is commemorated by a crater on the MoonGärtner (crater)
Gärtner is the lava-flooded remnant of a crater in the northeast part of the Moon. It is located on the northern edge of the Mare Frigoris. The southern half of the formation is completely missing, and Gärtner forms a semi-circular basin along the edges of the lunar mare...
and by 132445 Gaertner
132445 Gaertner
132445 Gaertner is a main-belt asteroid discovered on April 14, 2002 by M. Meyer at Palomar Observatory.It is named after Christian Gärtner , a German telescope maker and astronomer, noted for his observation of the 1758 return of Halley's Comet.- External links :*...
, an asteroid.