Biography:Norman G. Thomas
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Short description: American astronomer (1930 - 2020)
| see § List of discovered minor planets |
Norman Gene Thomas (May 1, 1930 - May 19, 2020) was an American astronomer and discoverer of minor planets.[2]
He worked at Lowell Observatory[3] using the blink comparator alongside Robert Burnham, Jr., author of the famous three-volume Celestial Handbook.
He is credited by the Minor Planet Center with the discovery of 55 numbered minor planets during 1964–1989,[1] including the Apollo asteroids 4544 Xanthus[4] and 4581 Asclepius, as well as the Amor asteroid 3352 McAuliffe.
The main-belt asteroid 2555 Thomas, discovered by Edward Bowell at Anderson Mesa Station in 1980, was named in his honor.[5] Naming citation was published on 8 April 1982 (M.P.C. 6835).[6]
List of discovered minor planets
| 2089 Cetacea | November 9, 1977 |
| 2366 Aaryn | January 10, 1981 |
| 2527 Gregory | September 3, 1981 |
| 2556 Louise | February 8, 1981 |
| 2557 Putnam [1] | September 26, 1981 |
| 2558 Viv | September 26, 1981 |
| 2612 Kathryn | February 28, 1979 |
| 2683 Brian | January 10, 1981 |
| 2684 Douglas | January 3, 1981 |
| 2764 Moeller | February 8, 1981 |
| 2779 Mary | February 6, 1981 |
| 2895 Memnon | January 10, 1981 |
| 2927 Alamosa | October 5, 1981 |
| 2933 Amber | April 18, 1983 |
| 2999 Dante | February 6, 1981 |
| 3117 Niepce | February 11, 1983 |
| 3151 Talbot | April 18, 1983 |
| 3256 Daguerre [1] | September 26, 1981 |
| 3352 McAuliffe | February 6, 1981 |
| 3367 Alex | February 15, 1983 |
| 3397 Leyla [2] | December 8, 1964 |
| 3413 Andriana | February 15, 1983 |
| 3467 Bernheim | September 26, 1981 |
| 3525 Paul | February 15, 1983 |
| 3561 Devine | April 18, 1983 |
| 3580 Avery | February 15, 1983 |
| 3584 Aisha | October 5, 1981 |
| 3614 Tumilty | January 12, 1983 |
| 3621 Curtis | September 26, 1981 |
| 3807 Pagels [1] | September 26, 1981 |
| 3976 Lise | May 6, 1983 |
| 4193 Salanave [1] | September 26, 1981 |
| 4198 Panthera | February 11, 1983 |
| 4331 Hubbard | April 18, 1983 |
| 4544 Xanthus [3] | March 31, 1989 |
| 4568 Menkaure | September 2, 1983 |
| 4581 Asclepius [3] | March 31, 1989 |
| 4967 Glia | February 11, 1983 |
| 5249 Giza | April 18, 1983 |
| 5461 Autumn | April 18, 1983 |
| 5864 Montgolfier | September 2, 1983 |
| 6062 Vespa | May 6, 1983 |
| 6174 Polybius | October 4, 1983 |
| 7275 Earlcarpenter | February 15, 1983 |
| (7380) 1981 RF | September 3, 1981 |
| (7990) 1981 SN1 | September 26, 1981 |
| (8469) 1981 TZ | October 5, 1981 |
| (9157) 1983 RB4 | September 2, 1983 |
| (9534) 1981 TP | October 4, 1981 |
| (10706) 1981 SE2 | September 26, 1981 |
| (11018) 1983 CZ2 | February 15, 1983 |
| (12193) 1979 EL | March 4, 1979 |
| (12667) 1979 DF | February 28, 1979 |
| (19118) 1981 SD2 | September 26, 1981 |
| (29123) 1983 RA4 | September 2, 1983 |
| 1 with Brian A. Skiff 2 with Robert Burnham Jr. 3 with Henry E. Holt | |
|---|---|
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Minor Planet Discoverers (by number)". Minor Planet Center. 20 June 2016. http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/lists/MPDiscsNum.html. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
- ↑ "Norman Gene Thomas". Daily sun. https://archive.today/20220804232453/https://azdailysun.com/lifestyles/announcements/obituaries/norman-gene-thomas/article_8f6afa76-95ec-5bc0-b863-76d9d938c184.html. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
- ↑ Science News, Vol. 135, No. 18 (May 6, 1989), p. 28
- ↑ Dealing with the Threat of an Asteroid Striking the Earth: An AIAA Position Paper at the National Space Society
- ↑ Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(2555) Thomas". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (2555) Thomas. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 209. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_2556. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
- ↑ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/ECS/MPCArchive/MPCArchive_TBL.html. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
External links
- Library of Congress Authorities – Thomas, N. G. (Norman Gene), 1930-, (n89615892)
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