Friedrich Karl Arnold Schwassmann (25 March 1870 – 19 January 1964) was a German

astronomer An astronomer is a scientist in the field of astronomy who focuses their studies on a specific question or field outside the scope of Earth. They observe astronomical objects such as stars, planets, moons, comets and galaxies – in either ...

and a discoverer of 22

minor planet According to the International Astronomical Union (IAU), a minor planet is an astronomical object in direct orbit around the Sun that is exclusively classified as neither a planet nor a comet. Before 2006, the IAU officially used the term ''mino ...

s and 4

comet A comet is an icy, small Solar System body that, when passing close to the Sun, warms and begins to release gases, a process that is called outgassing. This produces a visible atmosphere or coma, and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena ...

s, who worked at AOP in Potsdam and at

Bergedorf Observatory Hamburg Observatory (german: Hamburger Sternwarte) is an astronomical observatory located in the Bergedorf borough of the city of Hamburg in northern Germany. It is owned and operated by the University of Hamburg, Germany since 1968, although it ...

in Hamburg. He was co-discoverer with

Arno Arthur Wachmann Arno Arthur Wachmann (8 March 1902 – 24 July 1990) was a German astronomer and discoverer of comets and minor planets, who worked for many years at the Bergedorf Observatory in Hamburg.comet A comet is an icy, small Solar System body that, when passing close to the Sun, warms and begins to release gases, a process that is called outgassing. This produces a visible atmosphere or coma, and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena ...

s 29P/Schwassmann–Wachmann,

31P/Schwassmann–Wachmann 31P/Schwassmann–Wachmann, also known as Schwassmann–Wachmann 2, is a periodic comet in the Solar System. It was discovered on January 17, 1929, at an apparent magnitude of 11.Cometography Home Page The comet has been seen at every apparition ...

and

73P/Schwassmann–Wachmann 73P/Schwassmann–Wachmann, also known as Schwassmann–Wachmann 3, is a periodic comet that has a 5.4 year orbital period and that has been actively disintegrating since 1995. It last came to perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) in March 20 ...

, and with

Arno Arthur Wachmann Arno Arthur Wachmann (8 March 1902 – 24 July 1990) was a German astronomer and discoverer of comets and minor planets, who worked for many years at the Bergedorf Observatory in Hamburg.Leslie Peltier Leslie Copus Peltier (January 2, 1900 – May 10, 1980) was an American amateur astronomer and discoverer of several comets and novae, including Nova Herculis 1963. He was once described as "the world's greatest non-professional astronomer" by ...

of the non-periodic comet C/1930 D1 (Peltier–Schwassmann–Wachmann). The main-belt asteroid 989 Schwassmannia, discovered by himself in 1922, was later named in his honor ().

List of discovered minor planets

References

1870 births 1964 deaths Discoverers of asteroids Discoverers of comets 19th-century German astronomers 20th-century German astronomers {{Germany-astronomer-stub

List of discovered minor planets

See also

References