German Mathematician and Astronomer 1790–1868

An astronomy professor at the University of Leipzig, German mathematician and theoretical astronomer August Ferdinand Möbius made special contributions to theoretical astronomy and analytical geometry. Möbius studied law at the University of Leipzig but soon discovered he disliked the subject, and in his first year decided to follow his interests in mathematics, astronomy, and physics.

Upon graduation in 1815, Möbius was appointed chair of astronomy at the University of Leipzig. However, he was not granted a full professorship, as he was a poor lecturer and was unable to attract many fee-paying students. Yet Möbius's publications spanned a broad range of topics in both astronomy and mathematics. His writings were influenced by his astronomy teacher Karl Mollweide, theoretical astronomer Carl Friedrich Gauss, and mathematician Johann Pfaff, who was Gauss's teacher.

Möbius...