A. Laurent

A. Laurent was a French astronomer.

Work

Laurent discovered on January 22, 1858 asteroids (51 ) Nemausa. More asteroid discoveries not reach him about himself little is known. From the astronomer Benjamin Valz, director of the observatory of Marseille, Laurent has been described as " élève distingué de l' école Marseillaise " ( " excellent student of the Marseille School" ), of its successor Édouard Stephan as " jeune homme très habile " ("very capable young man "). When his official activity is " contrôleur au bureau de garantie " ( " controller for the guarantee office" ) called, according to astronomers designated him as "Amateur " or " Astronomical dilettantes ".

Nemausa was discovered at a private observatory in Nimes, which belonged to a house that was previously inhabited Benjamin Valz. Valz was director of the observatory of Marseille and confided to the house Laurent. The house on the Rue Nationale 32 carries today a plaque that commemorates the discovery.

For his discovery Laurent in 1858, together with other discoverers of asteroids and comets (Goldschmidt, Searle, Tuttle, Winnecke and Donati ) awarded the Prix d'Astronomie Lalande Medal of the Foundation.

Laurent honor one discovered in 1876 by ​​Prosper Henry Mathieu asteroid (162 ) Laurentia was named.