Lucky discovery of asteroid with Crossley reflector in 1899

 Asteroid 1899 FD was discovered by chance on December 6^th 1899 using the 36 inch Crossley telescope at Lick Observatory.

The region of Hind’s variable nebula or NGC 1555 was photographed on December 6^th, 1899, by James Keeler using the 36-inch Crossley reflector at Lick Observatory in America. The telescope was owned by Edward Crosley of Halifax in Yorkshire. Crossley owned the Crossley Carpet factory; he had donated the telescope to Lick.  The nebula is named after the British astronomer John Russell who first discovered it is a peculiar variable nebula; it is believed to be an area where stars are being created.

An exposure of 4 hours on the negative when it was examined the next morning found a very fine faint line. The position of the asteroid could not be determined accurately, another photograph was taken on December 9^th, 1899, it was then announced that asteroid 1899 FD had been discovered. The asteroid was very faint at magnitude 17.

 

Today the asteroid is known as 452 Hamiltonia.

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