Bailly, Jean Sylvain (1736–1793)

French astronomer and politician. After studying the satellites of Jupiter and writing a five-volume history of astronomy (1775–87), he turned to politics, becoming mayor of Paris (1789–91); he was executed in the Terror. Out of all proportion to his importance to astronomy, the largest crater on the nearside of the Moon is named after him.

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• ASTRONOMERS AND ASTROPHYSICISTS

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