Carl Gustav Witt
Carl Gustav Witt | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | 3 January 1946 | (aged 79)
Nationality | German |
Alma mater | Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität |
Known for | discovery of asteroids |
Awards | Iron Cross 2nd Class, 2732 Witt is named after him |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Astronomy |
Institutions | Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Urania Sternwarte Berlin |
Doctoral advisor | Julius Bauschinger |
422 Berolina | 8 October 1896 |
433 Eros | 13 August 1898 |
Carl Gustav Witt (29 October 1866 – 3 January 1946) was a German astronomer and discoverer of two asteroids who worked at the Berlin Urania Observatory, a popular observatory of the Urania astronomical association of Berlin.[2]
He wrote a doctoral thesis under the direction of Julius Bauschinger.
Witt discovered two asteroids, most notably 433 Eros, the first asteroid with a male name, and the first known near-Earth object.[3][4] His first minor planet discovery was the main-belt asteroid 422 Berolina, that bears the Latin name of his adoptive city.[5]
The minor planet 2732 Witt – an A-type asteroid from the main-belt, discovered by Max Wolf at Heidelberg Observatory in 1926 – was named in his memory by American astronomer and MPC's longtime director, Brian G. Marsden.[2] Naming citation was published on 22 September 1983 (M.P.C. 8153).[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "Minor Planet Discoverers (by number)". Minor Planet Center. 22 June 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- ^ a b Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(2732) Witt". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (2732) Witt. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 224. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_2733. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
- ^ "433 Eros (1898 DQ)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
- ^ Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(433) Eros". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (433) Eros. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 50. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_434. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
- ^ Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(422) Berolina". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (422) Berolina. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 49. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_423. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
- ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 12 July 2016.