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]
Carl Gustav Witt | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 29 October 1866 |
| 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 |
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.
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