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Vega wrote on artillery but he is best remembered for his tables of logarithms and trigonometric functions. His seven figure log tables were based on those of Vlacq and were famed for their accuracy. The calculations were done with the help of soldiers who were given a gold ducat for every mistake they found. His first book of logarithms appeared in 1783. The tables Thesaurus logarithmorm completus appeared in 1794 and the 90th edition appeared in 1924.
Vega wrote a four volume textbook Vorlesungen über die Mathematik (1782, 1784, 1788, 1800). This book also contains trigonometric tables.
Vega calculated 
to 140 places, a record which stood for over 50 years. This appears in a paper which he published in 1789.
As a military man Vega was involved in several wars. In 1788 he fought against the Turks at a battle near Belgrade commanding gun positions. He also fought against the French at many battles in this time of revolution and wars in Europe.
In September 1802 Jurij Vega was reported missing. A search was unsuccessful until his body was found in the Danube near Vienna. The official cause of death was an accident but many suspect that he was murdered.
The picture displayed is from a Slovenian 50 Tolar bank note issued in his honour. A Slovenian stamp has also been issued to honour him.
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