The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation grants approximately 20
Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Awards annually to internationally renowned scholars in recognition for their outstanding accomplishments in research and their exceptional promise to the future.
Meanwhile,
Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel (1784-1846) started work on parallax in Konigsberg, East Prussia.
The German astronomer
Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel realized that the large apparent motion of 61 Cygni suggests that the pair is closer to us than most stars.
Konigsberg Observatory founded;
Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel appointed Director; the observatory was completed in 1813.
The German astronomer
Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel (1784-1846) chose the star 61 Cygni, which was rather dim but had the fastest proper motion (the apparent shift in position across the sky) then known, so that it was likely to be close, too.