Education
From 1866 to 1870, Palisa studied mathematics and astronomy at the University of Vienna. However, he did not graduate until 1884.
Astronomer university professor
From 1866 to 1870, Palisa studied mathematics and astronomy at the University of Vienna. However, he did not graduate until 1884.
He was a prolific discoverer of asteroids, discovering 122 in all, from 136 Austria in 1874 to 1073 Gellivara in 1923. Some of his notable discoveries include 153 Hilda, 216 Kleopatra, 243 Ida, 253 Mathilde, 324 Bamberga, and the Amor asteroid 719 Albert. The minor planet 914 Palisana and the lunar crater Palisa were named in his honour.
He was awarded the Valz Prize from the French Academy of Sciences in 1906.
Despite this, by 1870 he was an assistant at the University"s observatory, and a year later gained a position at the observatory in Geneva. A few years later, in 1872, at the age of 24, Palisa became the director of the Austrian Naval Observatory in Pula.
While at Pula, he discovered his first asteroid, 136 Austria, on March 18, 1874. Along with this, he discovered twenty-seven minor planets and one comet.
During his stay in Pula he used a small six-inch refractor telescope to aid in his research.
Between 1874 and 1923 Palisa discovered 122 asteroids ranging from 136 Austria to 1073 Gellivara. He worked from Pola and Vienna. He also discovered the comet C/1879 Q1 in the year 1879.
14309 Defoy has a higher mp number but was discovered in 1908 by Palisa.
One of his discoveries was 253 Mathilde, which was visited by the spacecraft NEAR Shoemaker on June 27, 1997 The robotic probe passed within 1200 km of Mathilde at 12:56 Utah at 9.93 km/s, returning imaging and other instrument data including over 500 images which covered 60% of Mathilde"s surface. Von Hepperger, J. (November 1925).
"Anzeige des Todes von Johann Palisa". Astronomische Nachrichten (in German) 225 (7): 125–127.
Bibcode:1925AN..225.125V. doi:10.1002/asna.19252250706.
German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina.