Carl Gustav Witt

Carl Gustav Witt, born on October twenty-ninth, eighteen sixty-six, was a prominent German astronomer renowned for his significant contributions to the field of astronomy. He was affiliated with the Berlin Urania Observatory, a well-known institution within the Urania astronomical association of Berlin, where he honed his skills and made remarkable discoveries.

Witt's academic journey included writing a doctoral thesis under the guidance of the esteemed Julius Bauschinger. His dedication to the study of celestial bodies led him to discover two asteroids, with the most notable being 433 Eros. This asteroid holds the distinction of being the first to bear a male name and is recognized as the first known near-Earth object.

In addition to Eros, Witt's first minor planet discovery was the main-belt asteroid 422 Berolina, named in honor of his adoptive city. His legacy continued even after his passing, as the minor planet 2732 Witt, an A-type asteroid from the main-belt, was named in his memory. This tribute was initiated by American astronomer Brian G. Marsden, with the naming citation published on September twenty-second, nineteen eighty-three.