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August Ferdinand Mobius was born on Nov. 17, 1790 in Schulpforta, Germany. In 1809 Mobius graduated from College and went to the University of Leipzig. Athough his family suggested Mobius study law, he preferred mathematics, astronomy, and physics. In 1813, Mobius studied astronomy under Gauss at the Gottingen Observatory. By 1815, he started his doctoral thesis on the occultation of fixed stars. Shortly, he began his Habilitation thesis on trigonometric equations. Mobius was appointed to the chair of astronomy and higher mechanics at the University of Leipzig in 1816. He did not gain full professorship in astronomy until 1844.
Mobius is known for his work in analytic geometry and topology. Specifically, he was one of the discoverers of the Mobius Strip. Mobius also made numerous contributions in astronomy. He wrote papers on the occultations of the planets, astronomical principals, and on celestial mechanics.
Links:
http://www.newtown.k12.ct.us/~royalk/mobius.htm
http://www.scidiv.bcc.ctc.edu/Math/Mobius.html
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