Purdue News

July 22, 1987 Asteroid Named In Honor Of Purdue Researcher West Lafayette, Ind. — A Purdue University professor who has devoted his career to the study of meteorites has finally earned a piece of the rock. Michael E. Lipschutz, professor of chemistry at Purdue, has been honored for his achievements in the field of cosmochemistry by having a minor planet — more popularly known as asteroid — named for him. The honor was conferred on Lipschutz by the International Astronomical Union. Lipschutz was nominated for the award by Frank K. Edmondson, professor emeritus of astronomy at Indiana University and director of the research team that discovered the asteroid in 1949. "Considering all the things Michael has done over the years, and all the honors he has received, I can't think of anyone who more richly deserves this honor," said Edmondson. The asteroid, now officially known as Minor Planet 2641-Lipschutz, is located in the constellation of Pisces. The asteroid is approximately 10-15 miles in diameter. The earth, in comparison, is approximately 8,000 miles in diameter. The best viewing time for the planet will occur this year on Oct. 11, when the asteroid will rise at sunset and set at sunrise, said Edmondson. "That is the day the asteroid will be at its closest point to earth. It can actually be seen several weeks before and after that date," he said, noting that viewers will need a large telescope to see it. Lipschutz, who joined the faculty at Purdue in 1965, has studied the solar system and meteorites for 28 years. He is best known for his studies of trace elements — such as bismuth, tellurium and thallium — in meteorites. "Though these elements are only found in very small quantities, they can be used to convey information on a meteorite's age and origin, and can tell us something about the experiences that took place before the meteorite landed on earth," said Lipschutz. Meteorite studies such as Lipschutz's can be used by scientists as model systems on how the solar system formed, said Edmondson. "The fact that meteorites originate from minor planets — such as the asteroid named in honor of Lipschutz — makes this a most appropriate way to honor Michael's achievements," Edmondson said. Edmondson and Lipschutz met 12 years ago in France, where they both attended a conference on comets, asteroids and meteorites. "I turned around in my seat during one of the talks, and noticed that the person behind me was from Purdue," Edmondson laughed. "It was almost like running into a neighbor." Indeed, Edmondson, who was a member of the I.U. faculty from 1937-83 and served as director of the Goethe Link Observatory at I.U. from 1948-78, has had close ties with Purdue through the years. From 1963-71 he taught an introductory astronomy course to Purdue students through a television link-up between the universities. To date, the I.U. observatory has discovered more than 80 new asteroids. Edmondson has helped select names for many of these. Upon discovery, each new asteroid is given a preliminary identification number. If the minor planet is seen and verified by another research group, the planet receives a permanent number and may be officially named, Edmondson explained. "When selecting a name, I first look for a connection with I.U. or the state of Indiana," he said. Other asteroids named by Edmondson include: 1578-Kirkwood, named for Daniel Kirkwood, professor of mathematics at I.U. from 1856-86 who discovered the "Kirkwood gaps" in asteroid orbits; 1602-Indiana, named for the state and the university; 1952-Hesburgh, named for the Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, president of Notre Dame 1952-87; and 2161-Grissom, after astronaut Virgil "Gus" Grissom, a graduate of Purdue. For Lipschutz, being nominated by a colleague from I.U. makes the honor especially meaningful. "Many people think of Purdue and I.U. only as rivals in sports, and overlook the fact that there is a deep and mutual respect in terms of research between the two universities," he said. Official notice of 2641-Lipschutz's new name was published in the July 11 issue of "Minor Planets Circular," a publication of the International Astronomical Union. Noted in the same publication was another minor planet discovered at I.U.'s Goethe Link Observatory, named "2653-Principia" to honor the 300th anniversary of Sir Isaac Newton's publication. Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu