Starkenburg Observatory

Part of the Starkenburg-Sternwarte Observatory

Starkenburg-Sternwarte (Starkenburg Observatory) is an astronomical observatory in Heppenheim, Germany. It was formed in 1970, and currently has about 150 members.

The instruments at the observatory consists of:

  • 0.45m newtonian
  • 0.30m Meade LX200
  • 0.20m refractor
  • 0.15m refractor
  • 0.10m refractor
  • 0.19m flat-field camera
  • 0.14m schmidt camera

The observatory was the venue for the 1997 and 2003 meetings of the European Radio Astronomy Congress. The amateur astronomers at the observatory have discovered more than 40 asteroids and participate in the tracking of near earth asteroids. The asteroid 6864 Starkenburg was named in honor of their efforts.

Discoveries

As of 2016, IAU's Minor Planet Center (MPC) credits the discovery of 47 numbered minor planets to "Starkenburg" (1997–2009), and 5 numbered minor planets to "Heppenheim" (1997–2002), for which no apparent distinction can be made. The asteroid 216624 Kaufer, for example, is credited to Heppenheim, while its citation explicitly mentions the "Starkenburg Observatory" as its discovery site.[1]

For the table below, the mentioned astronomers may or may not be credited directly with the discovery by the MPC. Instead, the discovery site/observatory, "Starkenburg" or "Heppenheim", may be the sole credited discoverer, as for 18610 Arthurdent (discovered at Heppenheim by Starkenburg).[2]

Asteroids discovered: 52 (47+5)[3]
12053 Turtlestar October 8, 1997 M. Busch, W. Ernst, K. Sonneberg, L. Kurtze
12057 Alfredsturm February 18, 1998 P. Geffert, J. Rothermel, E. Schwab, R. Stoss
14080 Heppenheim April 1, 1997 W. Ernst, K. Sonneberg, R. Stoss
15397 Ksoari October 27, 1997 M. Busch, W. Ernst, K. Sonneberg, L. Kurtze
16809 Galápagos October 21, 1997 M. Busch, L. Kurtze
16969 Helamuda October 29, 1998 M. Busch, P. Geffert, R. Stoss
17855 Geffert May 19, 1998 A. Busch, M. Busch, E. Schwab
18567 Segenthau September 27, 1997 R. Stoss
18610 Arthurdent February 7, 1998 F. Hormuth
18653 Christagünt March 28, 1998 F. Hormuth, J. Rothermel, R. Stoss
21663 Banat September 3, 1999 M. Busch, R. Stoss
24168 Hexlein November 29, 1999 M. Busch, R. Stoss, R. Kresken
27984 Herminefranz November 1, 1997 R. Stoss
33863 Elfriederwin May 5, 2000 E. Schwab, R. Stoss
56561 Jaimenomen May 5, 2000 R. Stoss, E. Schwab

See also

References

  1. ↑ "216624 Kaufer (2002 XW37)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved March 2016.
  2. ↑ "18610 Arthurdent (1998 CC2)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved March 2016.
  3. ↑ "Minor Planet Discoverers (by number)". Minor Planet Center. 24 February 2016. Retrieved March 2016.

External links

Coordinates: 49°38′53″N 8°39′11″E / 49.64806°N 8.65306°E / 49.64806; 8.65306

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