Karl A. Augustesen (born 1945) is a Danish

astronomer An astronomer is a scientist in the field of astronomy who focuses on a specific question or field outside the scope of Earth. Astronomers observe astronomical objects, such as stars, planets, natural satellite, moons, comets and galaxy, galax ...

and co- discoverer of minor planets. Working at

Brorfelde Observatory Brorfelde Observatory (; List of observatory codes, obs. code: IAU code#054, 054) is an astronomy, astronomical observatory located in Brorfelde near Holbæk, Denmark. It is home to the Brorfelde Schmidt Telescope and was run as a branch ...

, he is credited by the

Minor Planet Center The Minor Planet Center (MPC) is the official body for observing and reporting on minor planets under the auspices of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Founded in 1947, it operates at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Funct ...

with the discovery of 6 numbered

asteroid An asteroid is a minor planet—an object larger than a meteoroid that is neither a planet nor an identified comet—that orbits within the Solar System#Inner Solar System, inner Solar System or is co-orbital with Jupiter (Trojan asteroids). As ...

s during 1984–1987. The Vestian main-belt asteroid 5171 Augustesen, discovered by astronomer and colleague Poul Jensen at Brorfelde Observatory in 1988, was named in his honor.

References

1945 births 20th-century Danish astronomers Discoverers of asteroids * Living people {{Denmark-scientist-stub