Alfred Schmitt

Alfred Schmitt (30 November 1907 – 2 April 1973) was a French astronomer. Schmitt worked at Algiers Observatory in the 1930s and 1940s and at the Royal Observatory in Uccle, Belgium in the 1950s. From 1955 to 1958 he was also director of the Quito Observatory in Ecuador. He extensively studied minor planets and comets and is credited with having discovered four asteroids.[6]

Asteroids discovered[1]

1215 Boyer	January 19, 1932	[2]
1622 Chacornac	March 15, 1952	[3]
1614 Goldschmidt	April 18, 1952	[4]
3156 Ellington	March 15, 1953	[5]

Personal life

Between 1940 and 1948 he married his colleague, astronomer Odette Bancilhon.

Signature

Schmitt's publications are all signed A. Schmitt, following the practice of his profession at that time.

Boyer

In 1932, Schmitt discovered an asteroid while working at the Algiers Observatory and named it in honor of his colleague, Louis Boyer – asteroid 1215 Boyer.[7]

20 years later, Boyer named 1617 Alschmitt in his honor.[6]

References

1. "Minor Planet Discoverers (Alphabetically)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
2. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 1215 Boyer (1932 BA)". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
3. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 1622 Chacornac (1952 EA)". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
4. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 1614 Goldschmidt (1952 HA)". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
5. "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 3156 Ellington (1953 EE)". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
6. Schmadel, Lutz D. (2003). "(1617) Alschmitt". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1617) Alschmitt. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 128. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1618. ISBN 978-3-540-29925-7.
7. Schmadel, Lutz D. (2003). "(1215) Boyer". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1215) Boyer. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 101. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1216. ISBN 978-3-540-29925-7.

External links

• Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, Google books