Karl Ludwig Harding
German astronomer who discovered the asteroid Juno in 1804.
Karl Ludwig Harding (29 September 1765 – 31 August 1834) was a German astronomer. He is noted for discovering Juno, the third main-belt asteroid, in 1804.
Harding was born in Lauenburg and studied theology, mathematics, and physics at the University of Göttingen from 1786 to 1789. In 1796, astronomer Johann Hieronymus Schröter hired him as a tutor for his son. Schröter ran a well-equipped observatory in Lilienthal near Bremen, where Harding soon became an observer and inspector. In 1800, he was one of 24 astronomers invited to join the celestial police, a group searching for new planets in the Solar System. As part of this effort, he discovered Juno at Schröter’s observatory in 1804. The following year, he left Lilienthal—his successor there was Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel—to become extraordinary professor of astronomy at the University of Göttingen, becoming ordinary professor in 1812. He worked at Göttingen Observatory from 1807 alongside Carl Friedrich Gauss until his sudden death in 1834.
Beyond Juno, Harding discovered three comets, the variable stars R Virginis, R Aquarii, R Serpentis, and S Serpentis, and several nebulae, including the Helix Nebula (also called the Eye of God). His major work was the *Atlas novus coelestis*, the first star atlas to omit ornate but confusing mythological figures.
Harding became a corresponding member of the Royal Academy of Sciences in Göttingen in 1803 and a full member in 1806. He was elected a corresponding member of the French Academy of Sciences in 1810, a member of the Royal Society in London in 1806, and an associate member of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1821. The government awarded him the title Hofrath (Councillor of the court). He received the Lalande Prize in 1804. The lunar crater Harding and the asteroid 2003 Harding are named after him.
His published works include the *Atlas novus coelestis* (1808–1823; re-edited by Jahn in 1856), which catalogued 120,000 stars; *Kleine astronomische Ephemeriden* (edited with Wiessen, 1830–35); and hours XV and XXIII of the *Berliner Akademische Sternkarten* (1826, 1830).
- born
- 29 September 1765
- died
- 31 August 1834
- field
- Astronomy
- nationality
- German
- known_for
- Discovery of the asteroid Juno
Quick Facts
- Honorific Suffix
- size=100% · country=GBR · FRS
- Birth Date
- 1765-09-29
- Birth Place
- Lauenburg/Elbe, Saxe-Lauenburg
- Death Date
- 1834-08-31
- Death Place
- Göttingen, Kingdom of Hanover
- Education
- University of Göttingen
- Known For
- 3 Juno, astronomical discoveries
- Awards
- Lalande Prize
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Harding was born in Lauenburg and studied theology, mathematics, and physics at the University of Göttingen from 1786 to 1789. In 1796, he became a tutor for the son of Johann Hieronymus Schröter, an enthusiastic astronomer with a well-equipped observatory in Lilienthal near Bremen, where Harding was soon appointed observer and inspector.
In 1800, he was among 24 astronomers invited to join the celestial police, a group dedicated to finding additional planets. As part of this effort, he discovered Juno at Schröter's observatory in 1804. The following year he left Lilienthal to become extraordinary professor of astronomy at the University of Göttingen, becoming ordinary professor in 1812. He worked at Göttingen Observatory, from 1807 as a colleague of Carl Friedrich Gauss, until his sudden death in 1834.
Beyond Juno, Harding discovered three comets, the variable stars R Virginis, R Aquarii, R Serpentis, and S Serpentis, and several new nebulae, including the Helix Nebula. His main work was the Atlas novus coelestis, the first star atlas without mythological figures.
Reader's Guide
Karl Ludwig Harding's significance lies primarily in his discovery of Juno, the third asteroid ever found, which expanded the known Solar System beyond the major planets. His participation in the celestial police reflects the organized international effort of the era to locate new celestial bodies. Harding's star atlas, Atlas novus coelestis, was a landmark in astronomical cartography, cataloguing 120,000 stars and omitting the traditional mythological figures that had previously cluttered such charts, making it more practical for scientific use. His discoveries of variable stars and comets contributed to the growing understanding of stellar variability and the nature of comets. Harding's legacy is further honored by the lunar crater Harding and the asteroid 2003 Harding. His career, spanning from tutor to professor at Göttingen and colleague of Gauss, illustrates the professionalization of astronomy in the early 19th century.
Did You Know?
- Harding discovered Juno, the third asteroid of the main-belt, in 1804 at Schröter's observatory.
- He was among 24 astronomers invited to join the celestial police in 1800.
- His main work, Atlas novus coelestis, was the first star atlas without mythological figures.
- The lunar crater Harding and the asteroid 2003 Harding are named in his honor.
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