Biography:Martin Connors
Martin Gerard Connors (born 1954) is a Canadian astronomer, space physicist, author and professor.[1]
Career
Connors received a PhD in Physics from the University of Alberta in 1998. He is a Professor at Athabasca University. He tutors and develops courses in Mathematics, Physics, and Astronomy.[2] He was part of the team credited with the discovery of the first Earth trojan asteroid, an asteroid that orbits the Sun on a similar orbital path as that of Earth. The 300-meter-diameter asteroid was designated 2010 TK7. The asteroid was discovered in October 2010 by the NEOWISE team of astronomers using NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE).[3] Connors himself is credited with the near-Earth and Apollo asteroid (464639) 2000 PO30, which he co-discovered together with astronomer Christian Veillet at the Mauna Kea Observatories in August 2000.[4] He was co-discoverer of the orbital properties of the "retrograde Trojan" 514107 Kaʻepaokaʻāwela.[5]
Connors' first book "Invisible Solar System" was published by Taylor and Francis/CRC Press in 2024.
Awards and honors
The asteroid 13700 Connors, discovered by the Spacewatch survey in 1998, was named in his honor.[1] He held a Canada Research Chair at Athabasca University and has received that organization's teaching and research awards.
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "13700 Connors (1998 MM36)". Minor Planet Center. https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=13700. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
- ↑ "Brief Bio Martin Connors". Athabasca University. 2006. https://auspace.athabascau.ca/handle/2149/348. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
- ↑ "NASA's WISE Mission Finds First Trojan Asteroid Sharing Earth's Orbit". NASA. 29 July 2011. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/WISE/news/wise20110727.html. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
- ↑ "JPL Small-Body Database Browser: 464639 (2000 PO30)". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=2464639. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
- ↑ "514107 Kaʻepaokaʻawela". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/514107_Ka%CA%BBepaoka%CA%BBawela. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
