Robert Luther

Asteroids discovered: 24[1]
17 Thetis April 17, 1852
26 Proserpina May 5, 1853
28 Bellona March 1, 1854
35 Leukothea April 19, 1855
37 Fides October 5, 1855
47 Aglaja September 15, 1857
50 Virginia[1] October 19, 1857
53 Kalypso April 4, 1858
57 Mnemosyne September 22, 1859
58 Concordia March 24, 1860
68 Leto April 29, 1861
71 Niobe August 13, 1861
78 Diana March 15, 1863
82 Alkmene November 27, 1864
84 Klio August 25, 1865
90 Antiope October 1, 1866
95 Arethusa November 23, 1867
108 Hecuba April 2, 1869
113 Amalthea March 12, 1871
118 Peitho March 15, 1872
134 Sophrosyne September 27, 1873
241 Germania September 12, 1884
247 Eukrate March 14, 1885
258 Tyche May 4, 1886
288 Glauke February 20, 1890
1 discovered independently 15 days after James Ferguson,
but reported first

Karl Theodor Robert Luther (April 16, 1822 – February 15, 1900), normally published as Robert Luther, was a German astronomer. While working at the Bilk Observatory in Düsseldorf, Germany, he searched for asteroids and discovered 24 of them between 1852 and 1890.[1][2]

Two of his discoveries are now known to have unusual properties: 90 Antiope, a binary asteroid with equal components, and the extremely slow-rotating 288 Glauke. The asteroid 1303 Luthera and the lunar crater Luther were named in his honour.[2][3] He was awarded the Lalande Prize in 1852, 1855, 1860, and 1861.

References

  1. 1 2 "Minor Planet Discoverers (by number)". Minor Planet Center. 28 December 2015. Retrieved February 2016.
  2. 1 2 Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1303) Luthera. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 107. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3. Retrieved March 2016.
  3. "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature – Planetary Names: Crater, craters: Luther on Moon". International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN). Retrieved March 2016.


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