Otto Leberecht Lesser (16 October 1830 – 12 August 1887) was a German astronomer who co-discovered asteroid 62 Erato with Wilhelm Julius Foerster on September 14, 1860 at the Berlin Observatory. This was the first co-discovery on record.
References
astronomy
Otto Lesser
Otto Lesser is a astronomy topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Otto Lesser rather than just read about it. In short: Otto Leberecht Lesser (16 October 1830 – 12 August 1887) was a German astronomer who co-discovered asteroid 62 Erato with Wilhelm Julius Foerster on September 14, 1860 at the Berlin Observatory. This was the first co-discovery on record.
Key takeaways
- Otto Lesser belongs to astronomy; place it in that map before memorising details.
- Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
- Connect Otto Lesser to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
- Reproduce the core statement of Otto Lesser from memory before moving on to harder problems.
Reference excerpt
Worked examples
Example 1 — a first encounter with Otto Lesser
Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Otto Lesser claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In astronomy, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.
Example 2 — changing one variable
Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Otto Lesser before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.
Example 3 — an exam-style question
Typical questions about Otto Lesser ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.
Applications of Otto Lesser
- In research
- Otto Lesser appears in astronomy research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
- In technology and industry
- Engineering practice reuses Otto Lesser in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
- In the classroom
- Otto Lesser is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 1830 births, 1887 deaths, 19th-century German astronomers, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
- In everyday life
- Look for Otto Lesser outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.
Affiliate
How to study Otto Lesser in 20 minutes
- Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
- Close the page and write down what Otto Lesser means in your own words.
- Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
- Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
- Explain Otto Lesser out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.
Frequently asked questions
What is Otto Lesser in simple terms?
Otto Leberecht Lesser (16 October 1830 – 12 August 1887) was a German astronomer who co-discovered asteroid 62 Erato with Wilhelm Julius Foerster on September 14, 1860 at the Berlin Observatory. This was the first co-discovery on record.
Why does Otto Lesser matter?
Because it connects several astronomy ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.
How should I study Otto Lesser?
Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.
What does this page cover?
It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Otto Lesser.
Tags
- 1830 births
- 1887 deaths
- 19th-century German astronomers
- Discoverers of asteroids
- Discoveries by Otto Lesser
- German astronomer stubs
- Recipients of the Lalande Prize