Named in honour of the American astronomer James Craig Watson (b. 1838 in Fingal, Ontario, d. 1880), director of the Ann Arbor Observatory, Michigan, who detected some comets and 22 minor planets. He left an endowment with the National Academy for the care of the "Watson" asteroids. Watson is also honoured by a lunar crater.
Orbit type: Main Belt Asteroid
Name:
Watsonia
Number:
729
Designation:
1912 OD
Disc. Date:
1912-02-09
Discoverer:
Metcalf, J.H.
Disc. Place:
Winchester