He studied mathematics and astronomy at the universities of Vienna and Berlin, receiving his doctorate at the University of Krakow in 1832. In 1842 he succeeded his father as director of the Vienna Observatory. Under his leadership, construction of a new observatory began in Währing in 1872; he died, however, prior to its completion. He was the husband of Auguste von Littrow. He died in Venice, Italy. He is the great-great-grandfather of Roman Catholic Cardinal Christoph Schönborn. Publications Beitrag zu einer Monographie des Halleyschen Cometen, (1834) – Monograph on Halley's comet. Verzeichnis geographischer Ortsbestimmungen, (1844) – Directory of geographical localizations. Die Wunder des Himmels : gemeinverständliche Darstellung des astronomischen Weltbildes, (1854) – The wonders of the heavens; a common understanding of the astronomical world image. Physische Zusammenkünfte der Planeten, (1859).
He studied mathematics and astronomy at the universities of Vienna and Berlin, receiving his doctorate at the University of Krakow in 1832. In 1842 he succeeded his father as director of the Vienna Observatory. Under his leadership, construction of a new observatory began in Währing in 1872; he died, however, prior to its completion. He was the husband of Auguste von Littrow. He died in Venice, Italy. He is the adult father of Roman Catholic Cardinal Christoph Schönborn. Publications
 Beitrag zu einer Monographie des Halleyschen Cometen, (1834) – Monograph on Halley's comet. Verzeichnis geographischer Ortsbestimmungen, (1844) – Directory of geographical localizations. Die Wunder des Himmels: gemeinverständliche Darstellung des astronomischen Weltbildes, (1854) – The wonders of the heavens; a common understanding of the astronomical world image. Physische Zusammenkünfte der Planeten, (1859).