David D. Balam

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

David D. Balam /ˈbeɪləm/ is a Canadian astronomer and a research associate with University of Victoria's Department of Physics and Astronomy, in Victoria, British Columbia. Specializing in the search for Near-Earth objects, Balam is one of the world's most prolific contributors to this research;[2] only two astronomers have made more such discoveries than Balam.[3] He is credited with the discovery or co-discovery of more than 600 asteroids, over a thousand extra-galactic supernovae,[3] and novae in the galaxy M31.[citation needed] Balam is also co-credited for the 1997 discovery of Comet Zhu-Balam.[4][5]

Among celestial bodies discovered by Balam are the asteroid 150145 Uvic, which he named for the University of Victoria,[3] and 197856 Tafelmusik, named for the Baroque orchestra in Toronto.[6] Currently, Balam conducts an optical transient survey (OTS) using the 1.82-m Plaskett Telescope of the National Research Council of Canada.

The asteroid 3749 Balam is named in his honour, recognizing the fact that he developed most of the software for the university's astrometric program on minor planets and comets.[7]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference MPC-Discoverers was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Dickinson, Terence (May 10, 1998). "B.C. telescope a key anti-asteroid sentry". Toronto Star.
  3. ^ a b c "t's a bird, it's a plane -- wait, no, it's UVic hurtling through the sky". canada.com/Victoria Times Colonist. June 1, 2007. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
  4. ^ "New comet named after astronomers". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. November 13, 1998. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
  5. ^ McNeney, Mike (February 6, 1998). "Sharp-eyed Balam co-discovers comet". The Ring/University of Victoria. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
  6. ^ "Asteroid has Tafelmusik's name on it". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. April 17, 2009. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
  7. ^ "Minor Planets and Comets" (PDF). Minor Planet Circular. 13 (105). International Astronomical Union: 74. May 31, 1988. Retrieved February 1, 2010.