biography
pronunciation:
[bayla]
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1782–1856)
|
| biography:
| Austrian army officer and astronomer. In 1826 he observed the periodic comet named after him, although it had already been seen in 1772. Biela's comet was observed in 1846 to break into two, and in 1852 the fragments were recorded as twin comets. In 1872 and 1885 bright meteor showers, known as Andromedids or Bielids, were observed when the Earth crossed the path of the planets' orbit. This gave substance to the astronomical postulation that some meteors are composed of fragments of disintegrated comets. |
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