19th-Century Astronomer Predicted 13,000 Eclipses
Theodor von Oppolzer, a 19th-century astronomer, calculated the dates of over 13,000 eclipses, creating the "Canon of Eclipses," a monumental work that provided precise computations for eclipses from 1208 B.C. to A.D. 2161. Despite the lack of electronic computers, Oppolzer's team used pencil-and-paper calculations to compile this authoritative work, which remained a key reference for nearly 80 years.