What is an asteroids First Observed property?
The “first observed” property of an asteroid is the date when the asteroid was first observed by a human OR recorded on film. It is not exactly the same as a discovery date. Objects discovered on a particular date by a human are sometimes later found, or “precovered” on photographic plates from telescopic cameras. When this happens, the First Observed date refers to the date when the film was exposed, even though the photographer may not have been aware that the asteroid was captured on film. In other cases however, the first observed property does refer to the date when the asteroid was discovered and reported by a person.
