Baron Wilhelm von Biela

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Baron Wilhelm von Biela

Born March 19, 1782
February 18, 1856
Nationality German, Austrian
Known for 3D/Biela

Baron Wilhelm von Biela (German: Wilhelm Freiherr von Biela) (March 19, 1782February 18, 1856) was an German-Austrian military officer and amateur astronomer.

Wilhelm von Biela was born in Roßla, Harz (Northern Germany) and was a captain in the Austrian army where he participated in a number of military campaigns against Napoleon between 1805, 1809 and later on.

In the field of astronomy, he specialized in observing and calculating the orbits of comets. He also did some sunspot observations. He independently discovered some comets that others had already found, and made one independent discovery of his own: the lost periodic comet 3D/Biela.

[edit] Notes

Regarding personal names: Freiherr is a title, translated as Baron, not a first or middle name. The female forms are Freifrau and Freiin.