Lutz D. Schmadel
German astronomer (1942-2016) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Lutz Dieter Schmadel (2 July 1942, in Berlin – 21 October 2016)[2][3][4] was a German astronomer and a prolific discoverer of asteroids, who worked at the Astronomisches Rechen-Institut (ARI) of the University of Heidelberg.[5]
Lutz Schmadel | |
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Born | 2 July 1942 |
Died | 21 October 2016 |
Spouse | Anna Theresia Schmadel |
see § List of discovered minor planets |
His special interest was the astrometry of minor planets. Among his numerous discoveries were the three main-belt asteroids 8661 Ratzinger, 10114 Greifswald and 11508 Stolte.[6][7][8]
He was the author of the Dictionary of Minor Planet Names, a reference book containing information about the discovery and naming of 12,804 asteroids (March 2006). One asteroid 2234 Schmadel, discovered in 1977, was named in his honor.[5] The asteroid 8811 Waltherschmadel was named for his father, Walther Schmadel (1902–1944), who died at the Eastern Front near Stalingrad during WWII.[9]