Loren C. Ball
{{Short description|American astronomer}}
| class="wikitable floatright" style="font-size: 0.9em; width: 270px;"
|+ Minor planets discovered: 111 | |
| see {{section link | List of discovered minor planets}} |
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox scientist
|name = Loren C. Ball
|birth_date = 1948
|birth_place = United States
|death_date =
|known_for = Amateur astronomer specialising in the discovery of Minor planets
}}
Loren C. Ball (born 1948) is an American amateur astronomer, who has discovered more than 100 asteroids while working at his Emerald Lane Observatory (843), built on the roof of his house on Emerald Lane, Decatur, Alabama. As of 2024, he has credit for 111 numbered designations with the Minor Planet Center at Harvard for the period between 2000 and 2004. None of them were co-discoveries. He is under contract with NASA through the University of Alabama in Huntsville to do outreach to school groups and organisations. {{As of|2024}}, he promotes asteroid education in schools and on social media.
The main-belt asteroid 16095 Lorenball, discovered by astronomers with the Catalina Sky Survey in 1999, is named after him. The official {{MoMP|16095|naming citation}} was published by the Minor Planet Center on 8 November 2019 ({{small|M.P.C. 118219}}).
List of discovered minor planets
{{see also|Category:Discoveries by Loren C. Ball}}
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| 34351 Decatur | 3 September 2000 | {{small|{{LoMP|34351|list}}}} |
| 51599 Brittany | 28 April 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|51599|list}}}} |
| 61400 Voxandreae | 25 August 2000 | {{small|{{LoMP|61400|list}}}} |
| 62701 Davidrankin | 7 October 2000 | {{small|{{LoMP|62701|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(64123) 2001 TS|18}} | 15 October 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|64123|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(65260) 2002 GE|2}} | 6 April 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|65260|list}}}} |
| 72834 Guywells | 25 April 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|72834|list}}}} |
| 73073 Jannaleuty | 4 April 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|73073|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(73196) 2002 JZ|10}} | 8 May 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|73196|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(78284) 2002 PC|43}} | 11 August 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|78284|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(83596) 2001 SC|263}} | 25 September 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|83596|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(88377) 2001 PK|29}} | 15 August 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|88377|list}}}} |
| 92586 Jaxonpowell | 9 August 2000 | {{small|{{LoMP|92586|list}}}} |
| 93164 Gordontelepun | 29 September 2000 | {{small|{{LoMP|93164|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(93466) 2000 TO}} | 2 October 2000 | {{small|{{LoMP|93466|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(93490) 2000 TV|33}} | 8 October 2000 | {{small|{{LoMP|93490|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(94404) 2001 SO|287}} | 30 September 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|94404|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(105272) 2000 QD|25}} | 26 August 2000 | {{small|{{LoMP|105272|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(105508) 2000 RA|9}} | 3 September 2000 | {{small|{{LoMP|105508|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(106096) 2000 TQ}} | 2 October 2000 | {{small|{{LoMP|106096|list}}}} |
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 89%; float: left; width: 26em; margin-right: 1em; height: 560px; | ||
| {{mp|(108917) 2001 PX|14}} | 15 August 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|108917|list}}}} |
| 112483 Missjudy | 1 August 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|112483|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(112484) 2002 PB|1}} | 4 August 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|112484|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(112539) 2002 PB|40}} | 8 August 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|112539|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(114910) 2003 QA|29}} | 24 August 2003 | {{small|{{LoMP|114910|list}}}} |
| 115492 Watonga | 23 October 2003 | {{small|{{LoMP|115492|list}}}} |
| 119195 Margaretgreer | 25 August 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|119195|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(120148) 2003 GO|51}} | 12 April 2003 | {{small|{{LoMP|120148|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(125266) 2001 VG}} | 7 November 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|125266|list}}}} |
| 128345 Danielbamberger | 15 April 2004 | {{small|{{LoMP|128345|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(131327) 2001 HC|23}} | 27 April 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|131327|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(131414) 2001 NB|6}} | 14 July 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|131414|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(131446) 2001 QP|100}} | 24 August 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|131446|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(132296) 2002 GB|1}} | 4 April 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|132296|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(132298) 2002 GD|2}} | 6 April 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|132298|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(140603) 2001 UQ}} | 18 October 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|140603|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(140632) 2001 UQ|17}} | 26 October 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|140632|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(140633) 2001 UR|17}} | 26 October 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|140633|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(142155) 2002 RT|28}} | 6 September 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|142155|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(144553) 2004 FB|6}} | 23 March 2004 | {{small|{{LoMP|144553|list}}}} |
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 89%; float: left; width: 26em; margin-right: 1em; height: 560px; | ||
| {{mp|(148772) 2001 UU|2}} | 20 October 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|148772|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(153175) 2000 UN|2}} | 24 October 2000 | {{small|{{LoMP|153175|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(153757) 2001 UN|210}} | 21 October 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|153757|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(154345) 2002 WS|18}} | 29 November 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|154345|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(156036) 2001 SD}} | 16 September 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|156036|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(158330) 2001 WK|2}} | 18 November 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|158330|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(160165) 2001 UR}} | 18 October 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|160165|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(163363) 2002 OV|19}} | 29 July 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|163363|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(166422) 2002 PS|1}} | 5 August 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|166422|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(166857) 2002 XE}} | 1 December 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|166857|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(170072) 2002 VG|128}} | 14 November 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|170072|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(173449) 2000 QO|6}} | 25 August 2000 | {{small|{{LoMP|173449|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(173875) 2001 UQ|14}} | 24 October 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|173875|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(177191) 2003 UD|10}} | 20 October 2003 | {{small|{{LoMP|177191|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(180683) 2004 HF}} | 16 April 2004 | {{small|{{LoMP|180683|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(182595) 2001 UH|18}} | 29 October 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|182595|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(183379) 2002 XL|44}} | 7 December 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|183379|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(187987) 2001 RJ|43}} | 12 September 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|187987|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(189076) 2001 HN}} | 16 April 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|189076|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(193801) 2001 PV|13}} | 14 August 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|193801|list}}}} |
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 89%; float: left; width: 26em; margin-right: 1em; height: 560px; | ||
| {{mp|(193947) 2001 RA|46}} | 15 September 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|193947|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(194124) 2001 SD|263}} | 25 September 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|194124|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(195511) 2002 HV|5}} | 19 April 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|195511|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(195874) 2002 RC|1}} | 3 September 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|195874|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(203866) 2002 XF}} | 1 December 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|203866|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(205558) 2001 SF|273}} | 27 September 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|205558|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(209155) 2003 UE|10}} | 20 October 2003 | {{small|{{LoMP|209155|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(213785) 2003 FZ|4}} | 25 March 2003 | {{small|{{LoMP|213785|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(219382) 2000 SU|89}} | 29 September 2000 | {{small|{{LoMP|219382|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(219590) 2001 TQ|18}} | 15 October 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|219590|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(222873) 2002 GL}} | 3 April 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|222873|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(237607) 2001 QQ|71}} | 21 August 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|237607|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(239965) 2001 NC|6}} | 14 July 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|239965|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(242244) 2003 SW|217}} | 28 September 2003 | {{small|{{LoMP|242244|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(243777) 2000 SJ}} | 19 September 2000 | {{small|{{LoMP|243777|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(247588) 2002 TW|92}} | 2 October 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|247588|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(259901) 2004 EL}} | 11 March 2004 | {{small|{{LoMP|259901|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(264594) 2001 UM|1}} | 19 October 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|264594|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(270980) 2002 WJ|11}} | 25 November 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|270980|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(286262) 2001 VK|17}} | 12 November 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|286262|list}}}} |
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 89%; float: left; width: 26em; margin-right: 1em; height: 560px; | ||
| {{mp|(286762) 2002 HU|4}} | 16 April 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|286762|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(287059) 2002 RF|1}} | 4 September 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|287059|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(287436) 2002 XP|3}} | 2 December 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|287436|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(287622) 2003 HO|16}} | 28 April 2003 | {{small|{{LoMP|287622|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(288473) 2004 FA|6}} | 23 March 2004 | {{small|{{LoMP|288473|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(297382) 2000 QC}} | 21 August 2000 | {{small|{{LoMP|297382|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(298268) 2002 XG}} | 1 December 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|298268|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(298353) 2003 KU|16}} | 28 May 2003 | {{small|{{LoMP|298353|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(302625) 2002 RD|1}} | 4 September 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|302625|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(313062) 2000 SS|89}} | 29 September 2000 | {{small|{{LoMP|313062|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(317288) 2002 GR|1}} | 5 April 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|317288|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(323243) 2003 SO|201}} | 23 September 2003 | {{small|{{LoMP|323243|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(333352) 2001 UK|6}} | 22 October 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|333352|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(334264) 2001 UH|6}} | 22 October 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|334264|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(337704) 2001 UJ|6}} | 22 October 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|337704|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(337814) 2001 VG|2}} | 10 November 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|337814|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(344229) 2001 SC}} | 16 September 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|344229|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(344291) 2001 UQ|4}} | 21 October 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|344291|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(344455) 2002 LE|47}} | 15 June 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|344455|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(354414) 2003 VA}} | 1 November 2003 | {{small|{{LoMP|354414|list}}}} |
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 89%; float: left; width: 26em; margin-right: 1em; height: 196px; | ||
| {{mp|(357096) 2001 TR|18}} | 15 October 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|357096|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(373481) 2000 TP}} | 2 October 2000 | {{small|{{LoMP|373481|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(390557) 2000 UL|2}} | 24 October 2000 | {{small|{{LoMP|390557|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(399394) 2001 SL|287}} | 29 September 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|399394|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(405121) 2002 GF|2}} | 6 April 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|405121|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(415816) 2001 QT|71}} | 21 August 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|415816|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(434064) 2001 VX|71}} | 12 November 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|434064|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(601867) 2013 UL|12}} | 1 September 2002 | {{small|{{LoMP|601867|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(629360) 2001 UR|4}} | 21 October 2001 | {{small|{{LoMP|629360|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(661253) 2004 EM}} | 11 March 2004 | {{small|{{LoMP|661253|list}}}} |
| {{mp|(720301) 2000 SK}} | 19 September 2000 | {{small|{{LoMP|720301|list}}}} |
{{clear}}
See also
- {{Section link|List of minor planet discoverers|L. Ball}}
References
{{reflist|refs=
|title = Minor Planet Discoverers (by number)
|work = Minor Planet Center
|url = http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/lists/MPDiscsNum.html
|date = 23 May 2016
|accessdate = 13 June 2016}}
|title = An Amateur Story – originally published in The Huntsville Times, 2001
|publisher = bsasnashville.com
|url = http://www.bsasnashville.com/members/LorenBall/story.htm
|accessdate = 20 November 2019
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160530104204/http://bsasnashville.com/members/LorenBall/story.htm
|archive-date = 30 May 2016
|url-status = dead
}} ([http://www.bellatrixobservatory.org/story.html at bellatrixobservatory.com])
|last1 = Montgomery
|first1 = Ben
|title = Stars falling over Alabama
|url = http://www.decaturdaily.com/news/local/stars-falling-over-alabama/article_f3e90b7d-160d-5ca0-a547-3d18a263138f.html
|work = Decatur Daily
|date = 13 December 2012}}
|title = (16095) Lorenball
|work = Minor Planet Center
|url = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=16095
|accessdate = 20 November 2019}}
|title = MPC/MPO/MPS Archive
|work = Minor Planet Center
|url = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/ECS/MPCArchive/MPCArchive_TBL.html
|accessdate = 20 November 2019}}
}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20160303165240/http://www.bsasnashville.com/members/LorenBall/ Barnard-Seyfert Astronomical Society page on L. C. Ball]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ball, Loren C.}}
Category:20th-century American astronomers
Category:21st-century American astronomers