Karl Ludwig Hencke
 |
| 5 Astraea | December 8, 1845 |
| 6 Hebe | July 1, 1847 |
Karl Ludwig Hencke (April 8 1793 - September 21 1866) was a German astronomer. He is sometimes confused with Johann Franz Encke, another German astronomer.
Hencke was born in Driesen, Brandenburg (now Drezdenko, Poland). He volunteered in the Wars of Liberation (Befreiungskriege) for Prussia but was wounded at Lützen. Thereafter he served as post official at various places and finally was erected post master. After his retirement he lived in his city of birth where he served as city court judge.[1]
He discovered two asteroids from his private observatory at #9, Kietz (now #43, Kietzerstraße), Driesen. The first, 5 Astraea, is notable for being the first asteroid discovered after the long gap that followed the last of the original four, 4 Vesta, which was discovered in 1807. Other astronomers had abandoned their searches for more asteroids, convinced that there were only four. However, Hencke began searching in 1830, and fifteen years later met with success.
He died at in Marienwerder (now Kwidzyn), then part of Prussia.
The asteroid 2005 Hencke is named in his honour.
References
   | This article about a German astronomer is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |