View source for Christian Heinrich Friedrich Peters

{{Short description|German-American academic and astronomer (1813–1890)}}
{{about|the American astronomer|the German astronomer (1806–1880)|Christian August Friedrich Peters}}
{{Infobox scientist
|name              = Christian Heinrich Friedrich Peters
|image             = ChristianHFPeters.jpg
|image_size        = 175
|birth_date        = {{birth date|1813|09|19}}
|birth_place       = [[Koldenbüttel]], [[Duchy of Schleswig]]
|death_date        = {{death date and age|1890|07|18|1813|09|19}}
|death_place       = [[Utica, New York]]
|nationality       = [[Germany|German]]–[[United States|American]]
|ethnicity         =
|field             = [[astronomy]]
|work_institutions = [[Hamilton College (New York)|Hamilton College]]
|alma_mater        =
|doctoral_advisor  =
|doctoral_students =
|known_for         = [[asteroid]]s
|influences        =
|influenced        =
|prizes            = 
|religion          =
|signature         = Signature CHF Peters.png
}}

'''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 [[asteroid]]s. His name is often given as {{nowrap|'''C. H. F. Peters'''}}.<ref name="Bio-Peters" /><ref name="MPC-Peters" />

== Biography ==

He was born in [[Koldenbüttel]] in [[Duchy of Schleswig|Schleswig]], then part of [[Denmark]], but which was later annexed to [[Germany]]. His younger brother was the German explorer [[Wilhelm Karl Hartwich Peters|Wilhelm Peters]].<ref>Landeskirchliches Archiv der Evang.-Luth. Kirche, Kirchenkreis Nordfriesland, Koldenbüttel, Taufen 1779-1873</ref> He received a Ph.D from the University of Berlin in 1836 and thereafter continued his studies in [[University of Göttingen|Göttingen]] with the renowned mathematician [[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.<ref>Sheehan, pp. 4-5</ref>

During the [[Revolutions of 1848]], Peters became involved with some of the radical, antimonarchical groups in Sicily, which brought him to the attention of authorities. He subsequently fled to France and eventually to the [[Ottoman Empire]], where he became a government advisor.<ref>Sheehan, p. 6</ref> At the suggestion of the resident U.S. consul in [[Istanbul]], [[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.<ref>Walter Pilkington, ''Hamilton College, 1812-1962'', pp. 197-8</ref>

In 1874, Peters headed a [[United States Naval Observatory]] expedition to [[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]], New Zealand, to observe the [[1874 transit of Venus|Transit of Venus]]. The visit is marked with a plaque, campaigned for by [[Sarah Salmond]].<ref>{{Cite Q|Q104657105}}</ref>

In 1878, Peters was elected as a member of the [[American Philosophical Society]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=APS Member History|url=https://search.amphilsoc.org/memhist/search?creator=&title=&subject=&subdiv=&mem=&year=1878&year-max=&dead=&keyword=&smode=advanced|access-date=2021-05-12|website=search.amphilsoc.org}}</ref>

While working at Hamilton College, he was a prolific discoverer of [[asteroid]]s, discovering 48 of them, beginning with [[72 Feronia]] in 1861 and ending with [[287 Nephthys]] in 1889.<ref name="MPC-Discoverers" /> Besides asteroids, he co-discovered the [[periodic comet]] [[80P/Peters–Hartley]], and also discovered various [[nebula]]e and [[galaxy|galaxies]].{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

== Star Catalog Controversy ==
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".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://casetext.com/case/root-v-borst | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208211807/https://casetext.com/case/root-v-borst | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 8, 2023 | title=Root v. Borst, 142 N.Y. 62 &#124; Casetext Search + Citator }}</ref> 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.<ref>"[https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1889/02/01/106336555.pdf At War about the Stars]," The New York Times (February 1, 1889)</ref> 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.<ref>Simon Newcomb, ''The Reminiscences of an Astronomer'', (Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1903), [https://books.google.com/books?id=8fKCAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA372 p. 372-381]</ref>

He died July 18, 1890, in [[Utica, New York|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."<ref name="Bio-Peters" />

== Honors ==

Main-belt asteroid [[100007&nbsp;Peters]], discovered by [[Eric Walter Elst]] at [[La Silla Observatory]] in 1988, was named in his memory, based on a suggestion by French amateur astronomer Michel-Alain Combes (born 1942).<ref name="MPC-Peters" /> The asteroid measures approximately 7.5 kilometers in diameter and belongs to the carbonaceous [[Alauda family]]. The official {{MoMP|100007|naming citation}} was published by the [[Minor Planet Center]] on 5 January 2015 ({{small|[[Minor Planet Circulars|M.P.C.]] 91792}}).<ref name="MPC-Circulars-Archive" />

== List of discovered minor planets ==

Between 1861 and 1889, C. H. F. Peters discovered 48 asteroids at [[Litchfield Observatory]] {{Obscode|789}} at [[Hamilton College]], New York, where he enjoyed the title "Litchfield professor of astronomy".<ref name="Bio-Peters" /><ref name="MPC-Discoverers" />

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 89%; float: left; width: 26em; margin-right: 1em; height: 280px;
|-
| '''[[72 Feronia]]''' || 29 May 1861 || {{LoMP|72|list}}
|-
| '''[[75 Eurydike]]''' || 22 September 1862 || {{LoMP|75|list}}
|-
| '''[[77 Frigga]]''' || 12 November 1862 || {{LoMP|77|list}}
|-
| '''[[85 Io]]''' || 19 September 1865 || {{LoMP|85|list}}
|-
| '''[[88 Thisbe]]''' || 15 June 1866 || {{LoMP|88|list}}
|-
| '''[[92 Undina]]''' || 7 July 1867 || {{LoMP|92|list}}
|-
| '''[[98 Ianthe]]''' || 18 April 1868 || {{LoMP|98|list}}
|-
| '''[[102 Miriam]]''' || 22 August 1868 || {{LoMP|102|list}}
|-
| '''[[109 Felicitas]]''' || 9 October 1869 || {{LoMP|109|list}}
|-
| '''[[111 Ate]]''' || 14 August 1870 || {{LoMP|111|list}}
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 89%; float: left; width: 26em; margin-right: 1em; height: 280px;
|-
| '''[[112 Iphigenia]]''' || 19 September 1870 || {{LoMP|112|list}}
|-
| '''[[114 Kassandra]]''' || 23 July 1871 || {{LoMP|114|list}}
|-
| '''[[116 Sirona]]''' || 8 September 1871 || {{LoMP|116|list}}
|-
| '''[[122 Gerda]]''' || 31 July 1872 || {{LoMP|122|list}}
|-
| '''[[123 Brunhild]]''' || 31 July 1872 || {{LoMP|123|list}}
|-
| '''[[124 Alkeste]]''' || 23 August 1872 || {{LoMP|124|list}}
|-
| '''[[129 Antigone]]''' || 5 February 1873 || {{LoMP|129|list}}
|-
| '''[[130 Elektra]]''' || 17 February 1873 || {{LoMP|130|list}}
|-
| '''[[131 Vala]]''' || 24 May 1873 || {{LoMP|131|list}}
|-
| '''[[135 Hertha]]''' || 18 February 1874 || {{LoMP|135|list}}
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 89%; float: left; width: 26em; margin-right: 1em; height: 280px;
|-
| '''[[144 Vibilia]]''' || 3 June 1875 || {{LoMP|144|list}}
|-
| '''[[145 Adeona]]''' || 3 June 1875 || {{LoMP|145|list}}
|-
| '''[[160 Una]]''' || 20 February 1876 || {{LoMP|160|list}}
|-
| '''[[165 Loreley]]''' || 9 August 1876 || {{LoMP|165|list}}
|-
| '''[[166 Rhodope]]''' || 15 August 1876 || {{LoMP|166|list}}
|-
| '''[[167 Urda]]''' || 28 August 1876 || {{LoMP|167|list}}
|-
| '''[[176 Iduna]]''' || 14 October 1877 || {{LoMP|176|list}}
|-
| '''[[185 Eunike]]''' || 1 March 1878 || {{LoMP|185|list}}
|-
| '''[[188 Menippe]]''' || 18 June 1878 || {{LoMP|188|list}}
|-
| '''[[189 Phthia]]''' || 9 September 1878 || {{LoMP|189|list}}
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 89%; float: left; width: 26em; margin-right: 1em; height: 280px;
|-
| '''[[190 Ismene]]''' || 22 September 1878 || {{LoMP|190|list}}
|-
| '''[[191 Kolga]]''' || 30 September 1878 || {{LoMP|191|list}}
|-
| '''[[194 Prokne]]''' || 21 March 1879 || {{LoMP|194|list}}
|-
| '''[[196 Philomela]]''' || 14 May 1879 || {{LoMP|196|list}}
|-
| '''[[199 Byblis]]''' || 9 July 1879 || {{LoMP|199|list}}
|-
| '''[[200 Dynamene]]''' || 27 July 1879 || {{LoMP|200|list}}
|-
| '''[[202 Chryseïs]]''' || 11 September 1879 || {{LoMP|202|list}}
|-
| '''[[203 Pompeja]]''' || 25 September 1879 || {{LoMP|203|list}}
|-
| '''[[206 Hersilia]]''' || 13 October 1879 || {{LoMP|206|list}}
|-
| '''[[209 Dido]]''' || 22 October 1879 || {{LoMP|209|list}}
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 89%; float: left; width: 26em; margin-right: 1em; height: 224px;
|-
| '''[[213 Lilaea]]''' || 16 February 1880 || {{LoMP|213|list}}
|-
| '''[[234 Barbara]]''' || 12 August 1883 || {{LoMP|234|list}}
|-
| '''[[249 Ilse]]''' || 16 August 1885 || {{LoMP|249|list}}
|-
| '''[[259 Aletheia]]''' || 28 June 1886 || {{LoMP|259|list}}
|-
| '''[[261 Prymno]]''' || 31 October 1886 || {{LoMP|261|list}}
|-
| '''[[264 Libussa]]''' || 22 December 1886 || {{LoMP|264|list}}
|-
| '''[[270 Anahita]]''' || 8 October 1887 || {{LoMP|270|list}}
|-
| '''[[287 Nephthys]]''' || 25 August 1889 || {{LoMP|287|list}}
|}
{{clear}}

== References ==
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name="Bio-Peters">{{cite web
  |title      = Christian Heinrich Friedrich Peters – A Biographical Memoir
  |first1     = William 
  |last1      = Sheehan
  |work       = National Academy of Science
  |type       = PDF
  |url        = http://www.nasonline.org/publications/biographical-memoirs/memoir-pdfs/peters-c-h-f.pdf
  |accessdate = 13 February 2019}}</ref>

<ref name="MPC-Discoverers">{{cite web
  |title      = Minor Planet Discoverers (by number)
  |work       = Minor Planet Center
  |url        = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/lists/MPDiscsNum.html
  |date       = 28 October 2018
  |accessdate = 13 February 2019}}</ref>

<ref name="MPC-Peters">{{cite web
  |title      = 100007 Peters (1988 CP4)
  |work       = Minor Planet Center
  |url        = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=100007
  |accessdate = 28 June 2016}}</ref>

<ref name="MPC-Circulars-Archive">{{cite web
  |title      = MPC/MPO/MPS Archive
  |work       = Minor Planet Center
  |url        = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/ECS/MPCArchive/MPCArchive_TBL.html
  |accessdate = 13 February 2019}}</ref>

}} <!-- end of reflist -->

== External links ==
* [http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1890AN....125..127. Obituary], ''[[Astronomische Nachrichten]]'' {{in lang|de}}
* [http://www.nasonline.org/member-directory/deceased-members/20001610.html C. H. F. Peters], National Academy of Science
* [http://atlantipedia.ie/samples/combes-michel-alain-n/ Michel-Alain Combes], atlantipedia.ie
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Peters, Christian Heinrich Friedrich}}
[[Category:1813 births]]
[[Category:1890 deaths]]
[[Category:19th-century American astronomers]]
[[Category:American people of Danish descent]]
[[Category:American people of German descent]]
[[Category:Discoverers of asteroids]]
[[Category:Discoveries by Christian Peters|*]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Lalande Prize]]
[[Category:People from Nordfriesland]]
[[Category:Hamilton College (New York) faculty]]
[[Category:Members of the American Philosophical Society]]