German-Hungarian astronomer patronized by Duke Ernst of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.

Zach built an observatory on the Seeberg near Gotha and directed the observatory—one of the most important of the time—from 1791, when it was completed, until 1806. During this period Zach enlisted 24 astronomers throughout Europe in making a systematic search for new comets and for the planet between Mars and Saturn expected on the basis of Bode's law (the Titius–Bode law). The principal result was the discovery of several minor planets (commonly called asteroids). Zach's most lasting achievement was the editing of three scientific journals during the interval 1798–1826.