Minor Planet Overbeek

At a surprise function in Johannesburg, South Africa, on November 11th, professor Brian Warner of the University of Cape Town announced that the circular of the minor planet center issued for November confirmed that minor planet (5038) 1948KF is to be called Overbeek.

AAVSO member and observer Danie Overbeek

Danie joined the AAVSO in 1952 and has received many honors for his efforts. In 1986 he received the AAVSO's highest award, The Merit Award. He has twice been the president of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa (ASSA), a rare feat, and received its highest honor, the Gill Medal, in 1994. He was also honoured in 1996 by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific when they presented him with their Amateur Achievement Award.

In addition to his variable star interests, Danie has also been a keen occultation, grazing occultation, and minor planet occultation observer and served as the Director of the occultation section of ASSA for a number of years.

He uses a 12-1/2 inch Dall-Kirkham reflecting telescope, which he made himself, for most of his variable star work. He has also built a SES/STD radio receiver, a magnetometer, and a seismograph, and he monitors planet Earth’s vital signs on a daily basis.

The minor planet that now bears the name Overbeek was discovered at the old Union Observatory in Johannesburg on May 31st 1948 by E L Johnson, but never received a name.

Table of contents

Next article