Norman G. Thomas
{{Short description|American astronomer (1930 - 2020)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
| class="wikitable floatright" style="font-size: 0.9em;"
|+ Minor planets discovered: 55 | |
| see {{section link | List of discovered minor planets}} |
Norman Gene Thomas (May 1, 1930 - May 19, 2020) was an American astronomer and discoverer of minor planets.{{cite web |title=Norman Gene Thomas |url=https://archive.today/20220804232453/https://azdailysun.com/lifestyles/announcements/obituaries/norman-gene-thomas/article_8f6afa76-95ec-5bc0-b863-76d9d938c184.html |publisher=Daily sun |accessdate=4 August 2022}}
He worked at Lowell Observatory[https://www.jstor.org/pss/3973628 Science News, Vol. 135, No. 18 (May 6, 1989), p. 28] 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, including the Apollo asteroids 4544 Xanthus[http://www.nss.org/resources/library/planetarydefense/1990-AIAA-PositionPaper-ThreatOfAsteroidStrike.pdf Dealing with the Threat of an Asteroid Striking the Earth: An AIAA Position Paper] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611223529/http://www.nss.org/resources/library/planetarydefense/1990-AIAA-PositionPaper-ThreatOfAsteroidStrike.pdf |date=2011-06-11 }} at the National Space Society 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. Naming citation was published on 8 April 1982 ({{small|M.P.C. 6835}}).
List of discovered minor planets
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| 2089 Cetacea | November 9, 1977 |
| 2366 Aaryn | January 10, 1981 |
| 2527 Gregory | September 3, 1981 |
| 2556 Louise | February 8, 1981 |
| 2557 Putnam {{ref label|codisc-a|1 |
|-
| 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 {{ref label|codisc-a|1|}} || September 26, 1981
|-
| 3352 McAuliffe || February 6, 1981
|-
| 3367 Alex || February 15, 1983
|}
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| 3397 Leyla {{ref label|codisc-a|2 |
|-
| 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 {{ref label|codisc-a|1|}} || September 26, 1981
|-
| 3976 Lise || May 6, 1983
|-
| 4193 Salanave {{ref label|codisc-a|1|}} || September 26, 1981
|-
| 4198 Panthera || February 11, 1983
|-
| 4331 Hubbard || April 18, 1983
|-
| 4544 Xanthus {{ref label|codisc-a|3|}} || March 31, 1989
|-
| 4568 Menkaure || September 2, 1983
|-
| 4581 Asclepius {{ref label|codisc-a|3|}} || March 31, 1989
|-
| 4967 Glia || February 11, 1983
|-
| 5249 Giza || April 18, 1983
|-
| 5461 Autumn || April 18, 1983
|}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 89%; float: left; width: 24em; margin-right: 1em; line-height: 1.6em !important;" | |
| 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 |
| {{mp|(10706) 1981 SE2}} | September 26, 1981 |
| {{mp|(11018) 1983 CZ2}} | February 15, 1983 |
| {{mp|(12193) 1979 EL}} | March 4, 1979 |
| {{mp|(12667) 1979 DF}} | February 28, 1979 |
| {{mp|(19118) 1981 SD2}} | September 26, 1981 |
| {{mp|(29123) 1983 RA4}} | September 2, 1983 |
| colspan=2 style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left; padding: 4px 12px;" |{{note label|codisc-a|1 |
|---|
{{note label|codisc-a|2|}} with Robert Burnham Jr.
{{note label|codisc-a|3|}} with Henry E. Holt
|}
{{clear}}
References
{{reflist
|refs=
|title = Minor Planet Discoverers (by number)
|work = Minor Planet Center
|url = http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/lists/MPDiscsNum.html
|date = 20 June 2016
|accessdate = 15 August 2016}}
|title = Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (2555) Thomas
|last = Schmadel | first = Lutz D.
|publisher = Springer Berlin Heidelberg
|page = 209
|date = 2007
|isbn = 978-3-540-00238-3
|doi = 10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_2556 |chapter = (2555) Thomas }}
|title = MPC/MPO/MPS Archive
|work = Minor Planet Center
|url = http://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/ECS/MPCArchive/MPCArchive_TBL.html
|accessdate = 15 August 2016}}
}}
External links
- [https://lccn.loc.gov/n89615892 Library of Congress Authorities] – Thomas, N. G. (Norman Gene), 1930-, (n89615892)
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Norman}}
Category:20th-century British astronomers
Category:Discoverers of asteroids
{{US-astronomer-stub}}