# Beryl H. Potter

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American astronomical researcher

This article is about the American astronomical researcher. For the Canadian disability rights activist, see [Beryl Potter](/source/Beryl_Potter).

Beryl H. Potter Beryl H. Potter using a blink comparator, from a 1955 newspaper. Born Edna Beryl Hinkle (1900-09-16)September 16, 1900 Goldsmith, Indiana Died August 10, 1985(1985-08-10) (aged 84) Frankfort, Indiana Occupation Astronomical researcher Known for Asteroid 1729 Beryl

**Beryl H. Potter** (September 16, 1900 – August 10, 1985), born **Edna Beryl Hinkle**, was an American astronomical researcher. She helped to discover asteroids and, in turn, an asteroid was named for her.

## Early life

Beryl Hinkle was born in [Goldsmith, Indiana](/source/Goldsmith%2C_Indiana), the daughter of Edmond Isaac Hinkle and Blanche Adele Cross Hinkle.[1] Her father was a doctor.[2] She graduated from Goldsmith High School in 1917, and attended [Indiana University](/source/Indiana_University).[3]

## Career

Potter was a research assistant at [Indiana Asteroid Program](/source/Indiana_Asteroid_Program) at [Goethe Link Observatory](/source/Goethe_Link_Observatory) in Indiana,[4] from 1942 to 1965.[5] She was assistant to astronomer [Frank K. Edmondson](/source/Frank_K._Edmondson) when he discovered a [dwarf star](/source/Dwarf_star) in 1944.[6][7] She analyzed thousands photographic plates using a device called a blink comparator,[8] and "contributed immensely to the program of minor planet observations".[9] In 1952, she helped to discover the asteroid named [1578 Kirkwood](/source/1578_Kirkwood).[10] In 1955, she was part of an "all-Hoosier team" that discovered the asteroid named [1602 Indiana](/source/1602_Indiana); "Mrs. Beryl Potter, research assistant, gets credit for the most important work, since she actually spotted the tiny planet among thousands of stars on photographic plates," explained a 1955 newspaper report.[11] An asteroid ([1729 Beryl](/source/1729_Beryl)) was officially named in her honor in 1968,[12] by astronomer [Paul Herget](/source/Paul_Herget).[13]

## Personal life

Beryl Hinkle married William N. Potter. They lived in [Bloomington, Indiana](/source/Bloomington%2C_Indiana), and had seven children. In 1936 she had serious health issues requiring more than a dozen [blood transfusions](/source/Blood_transfusion).[14] She moved to [West Lafayette, Indiana](/source/West_Lafayette%2C_Indiana) in 1975.[3] She died in 1985, aged 84 years, in [Frankfort](/source/Frankfort%2C_Indiana).[13]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Mrs. Blanche Hinkle"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54887932/mrs-blanche-hinkle/). *The Kokomo Tribune*. 1970-05-13. p. 7. Retrieved 2020-07-07 – via Newspapers.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Goldsmith"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54887772/goldsmith/). *The Tipton Daily Tribune*. 1922-05-20. p. 3. Retrieved 2020-07-07 – via Newspapers.com.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_3-1) ["Mrs. Beryl Potter"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54887335/mrs-beryl-potter/). *Journal and Courier*. 1985-08-13. p. 22. Retrieved 2020-07-07 – via Newspapers.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Edmondson, F. K. (1951). ["Research"](http://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1951AJ.....56..154E). *The Astronomical Journal*. **56**: 154. [Bibcode](/source/Bibcode_(identifier)):[1951AJ.....56..154E](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1951AJ.....56..154E). [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1086/106572](https://doi.org/10.1086%2F106572).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["West Lafayette"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54887689/the-indianapolis-news/). *The Indianapolis News*. 1985-08-14. p. 50. Retrieved 2020-07-07 – via Newspapers.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["I. U. Professor Reports Finding Star Moving 155 Miles a Second"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54887046/i-u-professor-reports-finding-star/). *The Courier-Journal*. 1944-02-07. p. 7. Retrieved 2020-07-07 – via Newspapers.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Hoosier Discovers Star 'Speed Demon', Traveling More than 500,000 M. P. H."](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54890487/hoosier-discovers-star-speed-demon/) *The Indianapolis Star*. 1944-02-06. p. 38. Retrieved 2020-07-07 – via Newspapers.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Our Little Bit of Heaven"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54888896/mrs-beryl-potter-research-assistant/). *The Indianapolis Star*. 1955-03-13. p. 128. Retrieved 2020-07-07 – via Newspapers.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Schmadel, Lutz D. (2013-11-11). [*Dictionary of Minor Planet Names*](https://books.google.com/books?id=eHv1CAAAQBAJ&q=%22Beryl+H.+Potter%22+Indiana&pg=PA218). Springer Science & Business Media. p. 218. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-662-06615-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-662-06615-7).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["New Minor Planet Named for Pioneer Hoosier Scientist"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54889661/new-minor-planet-named-for-pioneer/). *Palladium-Item*. 1952-03-23. p. 21. Retrieved 2020-07-07 – via Newspapers.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Astronomers Discover New Planet, Pick Name of Indiana"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54888020/astronomers-discover-new-planet-pick/). *The Tipton Daily Tribune*. 1955-02-10. p. 11. Retrieved 2020-07-07 – via Newspapers.com.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Planetary Names"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54888691/planetary-names/). *The Terre Haute Tribune*. 1968-06-08. p. 2. Retrieved 2020-07-07 – via Newspapers.com.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_13-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_13-1) ["Beryl Potter"](https://physicstoday.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/1.2814912) *Physics Today* (February 1986): 92.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Has Been Given 17 Blood Transfusions"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54892486/has-been-given-17-blood-transfusions/). *The Kokomo Tribune*. 1936-12-28. p. 1. Retrieved 2020-07-07 – via Newspapers.com.

[Portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents/Portals):
- [Biography](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Biography)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Beryl H. Potter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beryl_H._Potter) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beryl_H._Potter?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.