Johann Evangelist Helfenzrieder (December 9, 1724 - March 1803)

Johann Evangelist Helfenzrieder was born in Landsberg am Lech, Bavaria, Germany. Reportedly, he was a Jesuit, a doctor of divinity, and lecturer of mathematics in Ingolstadt, and from 1770 - 1781, professor for mathematics.

Helfenzrieder discovered comet 1766 Helfenzrieder (D/1766 G1, 1766 II) from Dillingen, Germany in the evening of April 1, 1766. This comet was later independently rediscovered by Charles Messier in the evening of April 8 of that year. Comet Helfenzrieder was computed to have an orbital period of about 4 1/2 years, but was never seen again.


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