Carl Gustav Witt

Asteroids discovered: 2
422 Berolina October 8, 1896
433 Eros August 13, 1898
Carl Gustav Witt
Born (1866-10-29)October 29, 1866
Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia
Died January 3, 1946(1946-01-03) (aged 79)
Nationality German
Fields Astronomy
Institutions Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Urania Sternwarte Berlin
Alma mater Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität
Doctoral advisor Julius Bauschinger
Known for discovery of 433 Eros and 422 Berolina
Notable awards Iron Cross 2nd Class,
2732 Witt is named after him

Carl Gustav Witt (October 29, 1866 – January 3, 1946) was a German astronomer who used to work at the popular observatory of the Urania astronomical association of Berlin (Urania Sternwarte Berlin).

He wrote a doctoral thesis under the direction of Julius Bauschinger.

He discovered two asteroids, most notably 433 Eros, the first known asteroid with an unusual orbit occasionally approaching the Earth's (today it is classified as an Amor asteroid). The other one, Berolina, bears the Latin name of his adoptive city.

Several decades after his death, minor planet (2732) Witt was named in his honor.


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