Though a banker by profession, Wilhelm Beer, who was born Jan. 4, 1797, in Germany, dedicated his life to astronomy, establishing a private observatory in Berlin and acting as a patron and collaborator to professional astronomer Johann Madler. Between 1834 and 1836, Beer and Madler created and published Mappa Selenographica, the most complete and correct Continue reading "Jan. 4, 1797: The birth of Wilhelm Beer" The post Jan. 4, 1797: The birth of Wilhelm Beer appeared first on Astronomy Magazine .