Encke

Encke refers primarily to Johann Franz Encke, a German astronomer who lived from 1791 to 1865. Encke made significant contributions to celestial mechanics and observational astronomy, notably in calculating the orbit of a periodic comet and in studies of Saturn’s rings and meteoroid streams. His careful orbit determinations and mathematical methods helped advance the understanding of comets and planetary dynamics in the early 19th century.

Encke’s Comet, officially designated 2P/Encke, is a short-period comet named for Encke after he computed its orbit. It was first observed in 1786 by Pierre Méchain but was identified as a periodic body and linked to Encke’s calculations in 1819. The comet completes an orbit around the Sun in about 3.3 years and has a highly elongated orbit that brings it from near the Sun to beyond Jupiter’s orbit. Its appearances are predictable, and it has become one of the most frequently observed comets.

The Encke Gap is a feature in Saturn’s rings named after Encke. It is a relatively wide gap in the A ring created by gravitational perturbations, and is associated with the shepherding influence of nearby moons. The naming honors Encke’s contributions to planetary science.

There is also a crater on the Moon named Encke in his honor, reflecting the common practice of commemorating notable astronomers on lunar nomenclature.

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