 The discovery was announced in a letter addressed to German astronomer Johann H. Schröter dated 31 March.Because Olbers already had credit for discovering a planet (Pallas; at the time, the asteroids were considered to be planets), he gave the honor of naming his new discovery to German mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauss, whose orbital calculations had enabled astronomers to confirm the existence of Ceres, the first asteroid, and who had computed the orbit of the new planet in the remarkably short time of 10 hours.Gauss decided on the Roman virgin goddess of home and hearth, Vesta.