Norman G. Thomas

Norman Gene Thomas (May 1, 1930 - May 19, 2020) was an American astronomer and discoverer of minor planets.[2]

Minor planets discovered: 55 [1]
see § List of discovered minor planets

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 CetaceaNovember 9, 1977
2366 AarynJanuary 10, 1981
2527 GregorySeptember 3, 1981
2556 LouiseFebruary 8, 1981
2557 Putnam [1]September 26, 1981
2558 VivSeptember 26, 1981
2612 KathrynFebruary 28, 1979
2683 BrianJanuary 10, 1981
2684 DouglasJanuary 3, 1981
2764 MoellerFebruary 8, 1981
2779 MaryFebruary 6, 1981
2895 MemnonJanuary 10, 1981
2927 AlamosaOctober 5, 1981
2933 AmberApril 18, 1983
2999 DanteFebruary 6, 1981
3117 NiepceFebruary 11, 1983
3151 TalbotApril 18, 1983
3256 Daguerre [1]September 26, 1981
3352 McAuliffeFebruary 6, 1981
3367 AlexFebruary 15, 1983
3397 Leyla [2]December 8, 1964
3413 AndrianaFebruary 15, 1983
3467 BernheimSeptember 26, 1981
3525 PaulFebruary 15, 1983
3561 DevineApril 18, 1983
3580 AveryFebruary 15, 1983
3584 AishaOctober 5, 1981
3614 TumiltyJanuary 12, 1983
3621 CurtisSeptember 26, 1981
3807 Pagels [1]September 26, 1981
3976 LiseMay 6, 1983
4193 Salanave [1]September 26, 1981
4198 PantheraFebruary 11, 1983
4331 HubbardApril 18, 1983
4544 Xanthus [3]March 31, 1989
4568 MenkaureSeptember 2, 1983
4581 Asclepius [3]March 31, 1989
4967 GliaFebruary 11, 1983
5249 GizaApril 18, 1983
5461 AutumnApril 18, 1983
5864 MontgolfierSeptember 2, 1983
6062 VespaMay 6, 1983
6174 PolybiusOctober 4, 1983
7275 EarlcarpenterFebruary 15, 1983
(7380) 1981 RFSeptember 3, 1981
(7990) 1981 SN1September 26, 1981
(8469) 1981 TZOctober 5, 1981
(9157) 1983 RB4September 2, 1983
(9534) 1981 TPOctober 4, 1981
(10706) 1981 SE2September 26, 1981
(11018) 1983 CZ2February 15, 1983
(12193) 1979 ELMarch 4, 1979
(12667) 1979 DFFebruary 28, 1979
(19118) 1981 SD2September 26, 1981
(29123) 1983 RA4September 2, 1983
1 with Brian A. Skiff
2 with Robert Burnham Jr.
3 with Henry E. Holt

References
  1. "Minor Planet Discoverers (by number)". Minor Planet Center. 20 June 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
  2. "Norman Gene Thomas". Daily sun. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  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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