Nalin Samarasinha
{{Short description|Sri Lankan born planetary scientist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix = Dr
| name = Nalin Samarasinha
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| birth_date = 1958
| birth_place = Sri Lanka
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| nationality = American
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| known_for = first native born citizen of Sri Lanka to gain the distinction of having an Asteroid named after him
| education = Hena Vidyalaya, Mt. Lavinia
Nalanda College, Colombo
University of Colombo
University of Maryland, College Park USA
| employer = Planetary Science Institute USA
| occupation = Astronomer
| title = Senior Scientist
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Nalin H. Samarasinha (born 1958) is a Sri Lankan born planetary scientist and a discoverer of minor planets, who studies the dynamical evolution and processes of cometary nuclei and comae. Currently, he works as a senior scientist for the Planetary Science Institute in the United States.
Early life
Samarasinha earned a BSc first class honours in Physics from University of Colombo after schooling at Hena Vidyalaya, Mt. Lavinia and Nalanda College Colombo. Later he gained a MSc in astronomy from University of Maryland, College Park USA and followed it up furthering studies graduating with a PhD in Astronomy from the University of Maryland.[http://www.psi.edu/about/staff/nalin/nalin.html Nalin Samarasinha]
Discoveries and honours
Florian asteroid 12871 Samarasinha ({{mp|1998 ML|37}}), discovered by astronomers with the LONEOS survey in 1998, was named in his honor. The official {{MoMP|12871|naming citation}} was published by IAU's Minor Planet Center on 24 July 2002 ({{small|M.P.C. 46109}}). He is the first native born citizen of Sri Lanka to gain the distinction of having an asteroid named after him.[http://archives.dailynews.lk/2002/08/10/new16.html Celestial honour for Lankan astronomer] Together with astronomer Tod R. Lauer, he is credited with the discovery of asteroid {{LoMP|607372|{{mp|607372 Colombounilanka}}}}.
References
{{Reflist|refs=
|title = 12871 Samarasinha
|work = Minor Planet Center
|url = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=12871
|access-date= 29 January 2022}}
[http://archives.dailynews.lk/2002/08/10/new16.html Celestial honour for Lankan astronomer]
|title = MPC/MPO/MPS Archive
|work = Minor Planet Center
|url = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/ECS/MPCArchive/MPCArchive_TBL.html
|access-date= 29 January 2022}}
|title = Asteroid (607372)
|work = Minor Planet Center
|url = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=607372
|accessdate = 29 January 2022}}
}}
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite web|url=http://phys.org/news/2013-10-comet-ison-mars-imaged-approach.html
|title=Comet ISON and Mars imaged together during close approach
|date=
|publisher= phys.org
|accessdate=}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.noao.edu/education/hot.html
|title=Bringing Hot Topics in Astronomy into the Classroom
|date=
|publisher= noao.edu
|accessdate=}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.isoncampaign.org/files/docs/ISON_morphology_campaign_final.pdf
|title=Overview of Dr. Nalin Samarasinha's ISON morphology campaign
|date=
|publisher= isoncampaign.org
|accessdate=}}
- {{cite web|url=http://www.colomboherald.com/science-technology/sigiriya-asteroid-that%E2%80%99s-far-away
|title=Sigiriya: Asteroid that's far away
|date=
|publisher= colomboherald
|accessdate=}}
- {{cite web
|url = http://nalanda.sch.lk/index.php/nalanda-college-alumni/academics
|title = Nalanda College Alumni (Academics)
|publisher = Nalanda College Colombo
|url-status = dead
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20140519094415/http://nalanda.sch.lk/index.php/nalanda-college-alumni/academics
|archivedate = 2014-05-19
}}
{{refend}}
External links
- [http://www.psi.edu/about/staff/nalin/nalin.html Nalin Samarasinha], staffpage at the Planetary Science Institute
- [https://smritidaniel.wordpress.com/2013/12/30/dr-nalin-samarasinha-what-comets-can-teach-us/ Dr.Nalin Samarasinha: What Comets Can Teach Us], smritidaniel.com
- [http://www.isoncampaign.org/cioc-participation ISON Observing Campaign], isoncampaign.org
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Samarasinha, Nalin}}
Category:Sri Lankan physicists
Category:Alumni of Nalanda College, Colombo