Henri Joseph Anastase Perrotin

Henri Joseph Anastase Perrotin (December 19, 1845 – February 29, 1904) was a French astronomer and a discoverer of minor planets.[2] Some sources give his middle name as Athanase.

Henri Joseph Anastase Perrotin
Minor planets discovered: 6 [1]
138 Tolosa May 19, 1874 MPC
149 Medusa September 21, 1875 MPC
163 Erigone April 26, 1876 MPC
170 Maria January 10, 1877 MPC
180 Garumna January 29, 1878 MPC
252 Clementina October 11, 1885 MPC
Martian crater Perrotin

In his early career, he and Guillaume Bigourdan were assistants of Félix Tisserand at Toulouse Observatory. Later, he was the first director of the Nice Observatory in Nice, France from 1884 until his death. He made observations of Mars and attempted to determine the rotation period of Venus. He also calculated perturbations in the orbit of 4 Vesta.[2]

In the literature, he is sometimes referred to as Henri Perrotin and sometimes as Joseph Perrotin (this is indeed one and the same person). He is also referenced in H. G. Wells's novel The War of the Worlds as "Perrotin of Nice". His 6 asteroid discoveries are credited by the Minor Planet Center to "J. Perrotin".[1]

He won the Prix Lalande in 1875 and 1883.[3] The Martian crater Perrotin and the inner main-belt asteroid 1515 Perrotin were named in his honor.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Minor Planet Discoverers (by number)". Minor Planet Center. 23 May 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2016.
  2. ^ a b c Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(1515) Perrotin". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (1515) Perrotin. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 120. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_1516. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
  3. ^ "LES LAURÉATS DU PRIX LALANDE". La Revue Scientifique. TOME 40: 460–463. 1887.
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Obituaries

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