Karl Christian Bruhns

Karl Christian Bruhns ( born November 22, 1830 in Ploen, † July 25, 1881 in Leipzig ) was a German astronomer and surveyor as active.

Bruhns studied higher mathematics and astronomy, and was then employed in a mechanical workshop in Berlin since 1851. Here he was able to gain the trust of Johann Encke, who was then director of the Berlin observatory by its performance. Encke introduced him in 1852 as a second assistant. In 1854, he became the first assistant. 1856 doctorate Bruhns with the De planetis minoribus inter Martem et Jovem circa Solem versantibus ( About the small planets between Mars and Jupiter rotate around the sun ) (Berlin 1856) and his habilitation in 1859 at the University of Berlin. Since 1860 Bruhns was professor of astronomy and director of the observatory Leipzig. According to his plans, a new observatory was built in Johannistal and closed the old observatory on the Pleissenburg in the years 1860/61. Bruhns did a great job especially in the field of path calculation of comets, of which he discovered some. In 1867 he was elected a member of the Scholars Academy Leopoldina.

When Johann Jacob Baeyer was entrusted with the Central European arc measurement, Bruhns took over the astronomical- geodetic works in Saxony. Over time Bruhns was also chief of the Prussian Geodetic Institute and gave 1865-1874 out numerous publications.

At the establishment of an institute of Geography at the University of Leipzig Bruhns had a significant proportion with the appointment of Oscar Peschel Ferdinand.

In the field of meteorology to Bruhns made ​​by establishing a relatively dense network of meteorological observation stations ( weather stations ) earned in Saxony.

Works

• The astronomical refraction in its historical development. Leipzig 1861
• History and Description of the Leipzig Observatory. Leipzig 1861
• Atlas of Astronomy. Leipzig 1872
• Biography Encke. Leipzig 1869