Karl Kreil

Karl Kreil (* November 4, 1798 in Ried in Upper Austria, † December 21, 1862 in Vienna ) was an Austrian astronomer and meteorologist.

Kreil studied at the University of Vienna Law and astronomy, and then was 1826-1830 assistant at the Observatory of Milan. In 1838 he was Counsellor and, since 1845 director of the observatory of the Prague Clementinum.

In July 1851 Kreil was appointed as director of the to be constructed by him Central Institute for Meteorology and Geomagnetism to Vienna. At the same time he was appointed full professor of physics at the University of Vienna. Kreil resulted in particular from studies of the Earth's magnetic field, the results of which he published mostly in journals. His observations of the comet, he published among others in the Cenni storici e teoretici sulle comete ( Milan 1832), observations of the great comet of 1843 ( Prague 1843) and about the nature and motion of the comet ( Prague 1843). He also published writings on the influence of the moon on the earth. Kreil was with Carl Friedrich Gauss in close correspondence.

Karl Kreil died on 21 December 1862 in Vienna. His legacy will be held at the University of Vienna.

In 1905 in Vienna Dobling ( 19th district ) of Kreilplatz was named after him.