Paul Wild (Swiss astronomer)

Paul Wild ( born October 5, 1925 in Wädenswil in Canton Zurich ) is a Swiss astronomer who for many years as a professor - from 1980 to 1991 as Director of the Astronomical Institute - has worked at the University of Bern, where he still works as a Professor Emeritus. He is also a doctor of philosophy and science as well as Chairman of the Fritz Zwicky Foundation.

At the observatory room near Bern discovered Professor Wild throughout his career about 94 asteroids, including some Near-Earth asteroids and comets seven. When his most important discovery is considered the periodic comet Wild 2 ( official name: 81P/Wild ), the wild watched on 6 January 1978 as the first. This comet was selected by NASA as a target for the Stardust mission. The probe should capture, among other dust particles of comet and transport to Earth.

Wild expressed his joy and his pride over his choice of comets in a handwritten letter to NASA. This letter accompanied on a microchip the mission. The probe returned on 15 January 2006 back to Earth.

The Swiss is named after the asteroid (1941 ) Wild.