Robert Luther

Karl Theodor Robert Luther (16 April 1822, Świdnica – 15 February 1900 Düsseldorf), normally published as Robert Luther, was a German astronomer. While working at the Bilk Observatory in Düsseldorf, Germany, he searched for asteroids and discovered 24 of them between 1852 and 1890.[1][2] Seven times Lalande Prize winner.

Robert Luther
Robert Luther on a commemorative medal
Born(1822-04-16)16 April 1822
Świdnica, Poland
Died15 February 1900(1900-02-15) (aged 77)
Düsseldorf, Germany
Known fordiscovery of 24 asteroids
AwardsLalande Prize (1852, 1853, 1854, 1855, 1859, 1860 and 1861)
Scientific career
Academic advisorsJohann Franz Encke

Biography

Karl Theodor Robert Luther was born on 16 April 1822 to August Luther and Wilhelmine von Ende. He was home schooled and studied in the local high school. In 1841, he moved to Breslau where he studied until 1843.[3]

In 1843 Luther moved to Berlin to study astronomy. He was a student of Johann Franz Encke and helped him in his astronomical calculations and creating the astronomical almanac. In 1850 he became a second observer. In 1851, Franz Brünnow invited Luther to the Düsseldorf-Bilk Observatory to become a director of the observatory after him.[3]

Luther married Caroline (nee Marker) and they had one son, William. Luther died in 1900 after a short illness in Düsseldorf.[3]

Discoveries

Luther discovered 24 of them between 1852 and 1890.[1][2]

Two of his discoveries are now known to have unusual properties: 90 Antiope, a binary asteroid with equal components, and the extremely slow-rotating 288 Glauke.

Asteroids discovered: 24[1]
17 Thetis17 April 1852
26 Proserpina5 May 1853
28 Bellona1 March 1854
35 Leukothea18 April 1855
37 Fides5 October 1855
47 Aglaja15 September 1857
50 Virginia[1]19 October 1857
53 Kalypso4 April 1858
57 Mnemosyne22 September 1859
58 Concordia24 March 1860
68 Leto29 April 1861
71 Niobe13 August 1861
78 Diana15 March 1863
82 Alkmene27 November 1864
84 Klio25 August 1865
90 Antiope1 October 1866
95 Arethusa23 November 1867
108 Hecuba2 April 1869
113 Amalthea12 March 1871
118 Peitho15 March 1872
134 Sophrosyne27 September 1873
241 Germania12 September 1884
247 Eukrate14 March 1885
258 Tyche4 May 1886
288 Glauke20 February 1890
1 discovered independently 15 days after James Ferguson,
but reported first

Honors and awards

The asteroid 1303 Luthera and the lunar crater Luther were named in his honour.[2][4]

He was awarded the Lalande Prize seven times, in 1852, 1853, 1854, 1855, 1859, 1860 and 1861.

Royal Astronomical Society Fellow since June 1854.[5]

In 1869, a commemorative medal honoring the discovery of the 100th asteroid shows the profiles of John Russel Hind, Hermann Goldschmidt and Robert Luther.[6]

References
  1. "Minor Planet Discoverers (by number)". Minor Planet Center. 28 December 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  2. Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1303) Luthera". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1303) Luthera. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 107. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1304. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
  3. Plicht C.A. (2014). Luther, Karl Theodor Robert. In: Hockey T. et al. (eds) Biographical Encyclopedia of Astronomers. Springer, New York, NY.
  4. "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature – Planetary Names: Crater, craters: Luther on Moon". International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN). Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  5. Royal Astronomical Society (1899). "List of the Fellows of the Royal Astronomical Society". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Spottiswoode & Company., digitized=13 Jul 2010
  6. "Mr. Bishop's Observatory". The Illustrated London News. 55: 368,372. October 9, 1869.
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