Marguerite Laugier (née Lhomme) (12 September 1896 – 10 June 1976) was a French

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, natural satellite, moons, comets and galaxy, g ...

active at the

Nice Observatory The Nice Observatory (french: Observatoire de Nice) is an astronomical observatory located in Nice, France on the summit of Mount Gros. The observatory was founded in 1879, by the banker Raphaël Bischoffsheim. The architect was Charles Garni ...

from the 1930s to the 1950s. Contemporary astronomical articles refer to her as "Madame Laugier". The

Minor Planet Center The Minor Planet Center (MPC) is the official body for observing and reporting on minor planets under the auspices of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Founded in 1947, it operates at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Function ...

credits her with the discovery of 21 numbered

asteroid An asteroid is a minor planet of the inner Solar System. Sizes and shapes of asteroids vary significantly, ranging from 1-meter rocks to a dwarf planet almost 1000 km in diameter; they are rocky, metallic or icy bodies with no atmosphere. ...

s, made between 1932 and 1955. In 1939, she was awarded the

Lalande Prize The Lalande Prize (French: ''Prix Lalande'' also known as Lalande Medal) was an award for scientific advances in astronomy, given from 1802 until 1970 by the French Academy of Sciences. The prize was endowed by astronomer Jérôme Lalande in 1801 ...

for her work. The outer main-belt asteroid 1597 Laugier, discovered by Louis Boyer at Algiers in 1949, is named in her honor (). ''Note:'' She is not to be confused with a male "M. Laugier" in 19th century literature, where the M. stands for "Monsieur". This refers to

Paul Auguste Ernest Laugier Paul-Auguste-Ernest Laugier (22 December 1812, in Paris – 5 April 1872) was a French astronomer, one of two French astronomers referred to as M. Laugier. Early life and education The son of André Laugier, a chemist (1 August 1770 – 9 Apri ...

(1812–1872).

References

* Brüggenthies, Wilhelm; Dick, Wolfgang R.: ''Biographischer Index der Astronomie / Biographical Index of Astronomy''. Frankfurt a. M. 2005, 20th-century French astronomers * 1896 births 1976 deaths Discoverers of asteroids Women astronomers 20th-century French women scientists Recipients of the Lalande Prize {{france-astronomer-stub