# Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers

> German physician and astronomer (1758-1840)

**Wikidata**: [Q75828](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q75828)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinrich_Wilhelm_Matthias_Olbers)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/heinrich-wilhelm-olbers

## Summary
Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers (1758–1840) was a German physician, astronomer, physicist, and politician. He is best known for formulating Olbers's paradox, a cosmological contradiction regarding the darkness of the night sky, and for his association with the main-belt asteroid 1002 Olbersia.

## Biography
- **Born:** October 11, 1758
- **Nationality:** German
- **Education:** University of Göttingen
- **Known for:** Olbers's paradox, astronomy, medicine
- **Employer(s):** Not specified in source (Affiliated with University of Göttingen)
- **Field(s):** Astronomy, Physics, Medicine, Politics

## Contributions
Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers is credited with the formulation of **Olbers's paradox**, a cosmological contradiction that highlights the discrepancy between the observed darkness of the night sky and the assumption of an infinite, static universe filled with stars. His work in astronomy also includes the discovery or association with **1002 Olbersia**, a main-belt asteroid. Additionally, a lunar impact crater named **Olbers** is recognized as a related entity bearing his name.

## FAQs
**What is Olbers's paradox?**
Olbers's paradox is a cosmological contradiction identified by Olbers that questions why the night sky is dark despite the assumption of a static universe filled with infinite stars.

**What were Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers's primary occupations?**
He was a professional physician and astronomer, but he also engaged in work as a physicist and a politician.

**Which scientific academies was he a member of?**
He was a member of numerous prestigious academies, including the Royal Society, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the French Academy of Sciences, the Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences, the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, the Accademia Nazionale delle Scienze detta dei XL, the Académie Nationale de Médecine, the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities, and the Academy of Science for Public Utility.

**What awards did Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers receive?**
He received the Order of the Red Eagle and the Lalande Prize. He was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

**Where was he educated?**
He was affiliated with the University of Göttingen.

## Why They Matter
Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers's formulation of Olbers's paradox provided a critical framework for understanding the nature of the universe, challenging the static model and contributing to modern cosmological theories. His extensive membership in leading scientific academies across Europe and the United States underscores his significant influence on the scientific community during his lifetime. The naming of a lunar crater and an asteroid in his honor secures his legacy in the field of astronomy.

## Notable For
- **Olbers's paradox:** A fundamental cosmological concept describing the darkness of the night sky.
- **Awards:** Recipient of the Order of the Red Eagle and the Lalande Prize.
- **Fellowships:** Fellow of the Royal Society and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
- **Celestial Namesakes:** The lunar impact crater Olbers and the main-belt asteroid 1002 Olbersia.
- **Academic Affiliations:** Membership in over a dozen national academies of sciences.

## Body

### Identity and Background
Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers, also known by the aliases Heinrich Wilhelm Matthias Olbers and Heinrich Olbers, was a German human born on October 11, 1758. He passed away on March 2, 1840. His professional life was multifaceted, spanning the fields of medicine, astronomy, physics, and politics. He was professionally active in Bremen, a city in the Bremen federated state of Germany.

### Professional Career and Education
Olbers was affiliated with the University of Göttingen, a major university in the city of Göttingen, Germany. His primary occupation was that of a physician, a professional who practices medicine. However, he was equally distinguished as an astronomer—a scientist who studies celestial bodies—and a physicist, a scientist who does research in physics. Additionally, he held roles as a politician, a person who holds or seeks positions in government.

### Scientific Work and Astronomy
As an astronomer, Olbers worked within the field of astronomy, the natural science dedicated to the study of celestial objects and phenomena originating outside the Earth's atmosphere. This field is classified as an exact science and a branch of physical science that organizes knowledge about the cosmos through systematic observation and theoretical modeling. His specific contributions to this field include the formulation of Olbers's paradox. This paradox addresses the cosmological contradiction between the observed darkness of the night sky and a static universe model. He is also associated with 1002 Olbersia, a main-belt asteroid, and the lunar impact crater Olbers.

### Memberships and Affiliations
Olbers was a member of a vast array of learned societies and academies, reflecting his high standing in the global scientific community. His affiliations included:
- **Academy of Science for Public Utility:** An academy of sciences founded in 1754.
- **Royal Society:** An English learned society for science founded in 1660.
- **Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences:** Sweden's national academy of sciences founded in 1739.
- **Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities:** An academy of sciences founded in 1759.
- **American Academy of Arts and Sciences:** A United States honorary society and policy research center founded in 1780.
- **French Academy of Sciences:** A learned society founded in 1666 to encourage and protect French scientific research.
- **Royal Prussian Academy of Sciences:** An academy of sciences active from 1700 to 1946.
- **Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences:** A Dutch learned society founded in 1808.
- **German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina:** The national academy of Germany founded in 1652.
- **Accademia Nazionale delle Scienze detta dei XL:** Italy's national academy of sciences founded in 1782.
- **Académie Nationale de Médecine:** A French organization founded in 1820.
- **Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Lower Saxony:** An academy of sciences in Göttingen, Germany, founded in 1751.

### Awards and Recognition
Throughout his career, Olbers received significant recognition for his scientific contributions. He was awarded the **Order of the Red Eagle**, a Prussian Order of Merit established in 1792. He also received the **Lalande Prize**, an award for scientific advances in astronomy given by the French Academy of Sciences from 1802 until 1970. Furthermore, he was honored as a **Fellow of the Royal Society** in London and a **Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences**.

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26. La France savante