methods at the time, it was found that he had used his least squares approximation method. This successful prediction started off Gauss's long involvement with the field of astronomy.On October ninth, 1805 Gauss was married to Johana Ostoff. Although Gauss lived a happy personal life for the first time, he was shattered by the death of his benefactor, The Duke of Brunswick, who was killed fighting for the Prussian army. In 1807 Gauss left Brunswick to take up the position of director of the Gottingen observatory. This was a time of many changes for Carl Gauss. Gauss had made his way to Gottingen by late 1807. The following year his father died, and a year following that tragedy, his wife Johanna died giving birth to their second son, who was to die shortly after her. Understandably Gauss's life was shattered, he turned to his friends and colleagues for support. The next year, Gauss was married a second time. His new wife was named Minna, she was the best friend of Johanna. Although the couple had three children, this second marriage seemed to be somewhat of a expedience for Gauss.Gauss's work was not visibly affected by these life altering events. In 1809, he went on to publish his second book Theoria motus corporum coelestium in sectionibus conicis Solem ambientium. This publishing was a profound two volume thesis on the motion of celestial bodies. Gauss's contributions in the field of theoretical astronomy continued until the year 1817. Gauss himself continued making observations until the age of seventy.In 1818, Gauss was asked to carry out a geodesic (a study in which predictions are made of exact points or area sizes of the earth's surface) survey of the state of Hanover, to link with the existing Danish grid. Gauss eagerly accepted the job, and took personal charge of the survey. He made his measurements by day, and reduced them by night, using his incredible mental ability for calculations. To aid him in his survey, Gauss invente...
