Christian Heinrich Friedrich Peters

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This article is about the American astronomer. For the German astronomer (1806–1880), see Christian August Friedrich Peters.
Christian Heinrich Friedrich Peters
Hamilton College
Signature

Christian Heinrich Friedrich Peters (September 19, 1813 – July 18, 1890) was a German–American astronomer and professor at Hamilton College, New York, and a pioneer in the study and visual discovery of asteroids. His name is often given as C. H. F. Peters.[1][2]

Biography

He was born in

Karl Friedrich Gauss. From 1838 to 1843 he was engaged in surveys of Mount Etna, in Sicily, where he also made astronomical observations, and afterwards participated in the complete geodetic survey of the island.[4]

During the

George P. Marsh, he emigrated to the United States in 1854. After an appointment as director of the new Dudley Observatory in Albany fell through, he made his way to Clinton, New York, where he was made director of the Litchfield Observatory at Hamilton College in 1858, and professor of astronomy in 1867. He was the first member of the Hamilton faculty to hold a Ph.D degree.[6]

In 1874, Peters headed a United States Naval Observatory expedition to Queenstown, New Zealand, to observe the Transit of Venus. The visit is marked with a plaque, campaigned for by Sarah Salmond.[7]

In 1878, Peters was elected as a member of the American Philosophical Society.[8]

Working at

periodic comet 80P/Peters–Hartley, and also discovered various nebulae and galaxies.[citation needed
]

Beginning in 1889, Peters was involved in litigation with his former student and assistant Charles A. Borst, in what became known as the "Great Star-Catalog Case".[10] While working for Peters as assistant director of the Litchfield Observatory, Borst had spent his spare time gathering an extensive amount of data for a new and revised star chart based on preliminary work done by Peters. When it came time to publish the results, however, Peters attempted to claim the entire project as his own, arguing that Borst was merely an employee and not a formal collaborator and that the research was his property as head of the observatory. Peters sued to force Borst to turn over the observational data he had collected.[11] The judge found for Peters, but many astronomers and newspapers sided with Borst and Peters died not long after. The initial judgment was ultimately reversed on appeal and a new trial was ordered, but it never took place. The eminent astronomer Simon Newcomb devotes a chapter in his memoirs to Peters, as an object lesson in how great scientific talent and poor ethical standards may coexist in a single individual.[12]

He died July 18, 1890, in Utica. Historian William Sheehan notes, "Peters was found lying, a half-burned cigar at his fingertips, on the doorstep of the building where he lodged; observing cap on his head, he had fallen in the line of duty, on the way to the observatory the night before."[1]

Honors

Main-belt asteroid

M.P.C. 91792).[13]

List of discovered minor planets

Between 1861 and 1889, C. H. F. Peters discovered 48 asteroids at

Litchfield Observatory (789) at Hamilton College, New York, where he enjoyed the title "Litchfield professor of astronomy".[1][9]

72 Feronia 29 May 1861 list
75 Eurydike 22 September 1862 list
77 Frigga 12 November 1862 list
85 Io 19 September 1865 list
88 Thisbe 15 June 1866 list
92 Undina 7 July 1867 list
98 Ianthe 18 April 1868 list
102 Miriam 22 August 1868 list
109 Felicitas 9 October 1869 list
111 Ate 14 August 1870 list
112 Iphigenia 19 September 1870 list
114 Kassandra 23 July 1871 list
116 Sirona 8 September 1871 list
122 Gerda 31 July 1872 list
123 Brunhild 31 July 1872 list
124 Alkeste 23 August 1872 list
129 Antigone 5 February 1873 list
130 Elektra 17 February 1873 list
131 Vala 24 May 1873 list
135 Hertha 18 February 1874 list
144 Vibilia 3 June 1875 list
145 Adeona 3 June 1875 list
160 Una 20 February 1876 list
165 Loreley 9 August 1876 list
166 Rhodope 15 August 1876 list
167 Urda 28 August 1876 list
176 Iduna 14 October 1877 list
185 Eunike 1 March 1878 list
188 Menippe 18 June 1878 list
189 Phthia 9 September 1878 list
190 Ismene 22 September 1878 list
191 Kolga 30 September 1878 list
194 Prokne 21 March 1879 list
196 Philomela 14 May 1879 list
199 Byblis 9 July 1879 list
200 Dynamene 27 July 1879 list
202 Chryseïs 11 September 1879 list
203 Pompeja 25 September 1879 list
206 Hersilia 13 October 1879 list
209 Dido 22 October 1879 list
213 Lilaea 16 February 1880 list
234 Barbara 12 August 1883 list
249 Ilse 16 August 1885 list
259 Aletheia 28 June 1886 list
261 Prymno 31 October 1886 list
264 Libussa 22 December 1886 list
270 Anahita 8 October 1887 list
287 Nephthys 25 August 1889 list

References

  1. ^ a b c Sheehan, William. "Christian Heinrich Friedrich Peters – A Biographical Memoir" (PDF). National Academy of Science (PDF). Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  2. ^ a b "100007 Peters (1988 CP4)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  3. ^ Landeskirchliches Archiv der Evang.-Luth. Kirche, Kirchenkreis Nordfriesland, Koldenbüttel, Taufen 1779-1873
  4. ^ Sheehan, pp. 4-5
  5. ^ Sheehan, p. 6
  6. ^ Walter Pilkington, Hamilton College, 1812-1962, pp. 197-8
  7. Wikidata Q104657105
    .
  8. ^ "APS Member History". search.amphilsoc.org. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
  9. ^ a b "Minor Planet Discoverers (by number)". Minor Planet Center. 28 October 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  10. ^ https://casetext.com/case/root-v-borst
  11. ^ "At War about the Stars," The New York Times (February 1, 1889)
  12. ^ Simon Newcomb, The Reminiscences of an Astronomer, (Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1903), p. 372-381
  13. ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 13 February 2019.

External links

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