Minor planets discovered: 55 [1]
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. ^ a b "Minor Planet Discoverers (by number)". Minor Planet Center. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  2. ^ "Norman Gene Thomas". Daily sun. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  3. ^ Science News, Vol. 135, No. 18 (May 6, 1989), p. 28
  4. ^ Dealing with the Threat of an Asteroid Striking the Earth: An AIAA Position Paper Archived 2011-06-11 at the Wayback Machine at the National Space Society
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 15 August 2016.

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