Bruns Karl Christian

(22.11.1830 - 25.07.1881)

German astronomer and surveyor.

Born in Plane

Bruns first studied higher mathematics and astronomy, and then worked from 1851 in a mechanical workshop in Berlin. Here he was able to win the trust of Johann Franz Encke, who at that time was the director of the Berlin Observatory. Enke hired him in 1852 as a second mate. In 1854, he became the first assistant. In 1856, Bruns received his doctoral degree after defending his thesis "On the Small Planets that Revolve around the Sun between Mars and Jupiter.

In 1859, Bruns habilitated at the University of Berlin. Since 1860, he is a professor of astronomy and director of the observatory in Leipzig. On his initiative, in 1860–1861, a new observatory was built in Johannistal and the old observatory on Pleisenburg was closed.

Bruns successfully studied the orbits of comets, of which he discovered several. In 1867, he was elected a member of the Academy of Scientists Leopoldina. Since 1869 he was a full member of the Saxon Academy of Sciences.

Bruns headed astro-geodetic works in Saxony, for a long time Bruns was also director of the astronomical department of the Royal Prussian Institute of Geodesy and published several volumes of astronomical geodetic works from 1865 to 1874.

In the field of meteorology, Bruns distinguished himself by creating a relatively dense network of meteorological stations in Saxony and creating an office for weather forecasts.

He died in Leipzig.