Harding, Karl Ludwig

Atlas novus coelestis XXVII tabulas continens stellas inter polum borealem et trigesimum gradum declinationis australis ad huc observatas.  Göttingen, 1822



Large folio (20¾  x 14½  in.; 528 x 368 mm).  Double-page engraved title, 27 double-page engraved star maps, green printed wrapper of the Halle edition of 1856 bound in; very light foxing on title, occasional spotting or soiling in margins of plates.  Contemporary half brown morocco, marbled boards, gilt-stamped morocco label on upper cover; rubbed, extremities worn. 

Brown, Astronomical Atlases p. 65; DSB VI, p. 112

First edition of Harding's important atlas, the "well-executed and carefully thought out work of a capable observer" (Brown). 

Harding's career as an astronomer began in 1796 when he bacame a private tutor in the household of A. H. Schröter, who had a private observatory at Lilienthal, near Bremen.  The best observations of great planets during that time were made at Lilienthal, mostly by Harding; and the Vereinigte Astronomische Gesellschaft was founded there.  Its primary aim was to make star charts.  This aim was realized only by Harding, who drew up a celestial atlas containing about 60,000 stars.  While working on the chart, Harding discovered (1804) the third asteroid and named it Juno Georgia in honor of George III.  He also discovered three comets.