Adolf Berberich

Adolf Joseph Berberich (16 November 186127 April 1920) was a German astronomer best known for his work on calculating the orbits of minor planets and double stars. The minor planet 776 Berbericia was named in his honour.

Early life Adolf Berberich was born on 16 November 1861 in Überlingen, Baden, As the number of minor planets grew rapidly, the ACI began to discuss prioritising other less daunting research, but Berberich persuaded the institute to continue their work. and the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Wrocław making him an honorary doctorate in 1911. His close friend and colleague Max Wolf said the following of Berberich and another close friend and colleague, Johann Palisa:

In the final half of his last year, Berberich fell extremely ill and could no longer make the considerable journey to the institute. Nevertheless, he continued to work from home and sent valuable calculations up until the final weeks of his life, during which he took an extended vacation. On the night of 23 April 1920, Berberich suffered a stroke. He failed to recover and died in the morning hours of 27 April in Berlin. Fritz Cohn described the numbers of attendance at his funeral procession as "countless."

Personal life Berberich was a generally reserved character. He spent most of his time alone and only married in 1916. His two closest friends were observational astronomers Max Wolf, who named a minor planet in Berberich's honour, and Johann Palisa, for whom Wolf also named a minor planet.

Unbeknownst to most of his colleagues and friends until after his death, Berberich was a devout Catholic and was active in the Tempelhof Catholic community, especially as a benefactor and adviser to the poor.

Honours

Awards

Valz Prize in 1893 for his calculations of the orbits of double stars, comets, and planets;

Namesakes

776 Berbericia, named by close friend and colleague Max Wolf;