Asteroid (2451) Dollfus

Named in honor of Audouin Dollfus (d. 2010-10-01), astronomer at the Observatoire de Paris, Meudon.  Dollfus was renowned for his fundamental work on planetary polarimetry and ground-based imaging, including studies of Saturn’s rings, the Martian and lunar surfaces, and the Venus atmosphere.  He worked on the polarimetric properties of minor planets. He was named an Honorary Member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada on 1975-01-25.

Orbit type: Main Belt Asteroid

Reference: MPC 6531

Author: 
ebriggs733@gmail.com
Name: 
Dollfus
Number: 
2451
Designation: 
1980 RQ
Disc. Date: 
1980-09-02
Discoverer: 
Bowell, E.
Disc. Place: 
Anderson Mesa