Richard P. Binzel | |
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Born | 1958 (age 65–66) |
Citizenship | US |
Occupation(s) | Planetary science, astronomy |
Organization | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Known for | Torino Scale |
Richard "Rick" P. Binzel (born 1958) is an American astronomer and professor of planetary sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He is a discoverer of minor planets, photometrist and the inventor of the Torino Scale, a method for categorizing the impact hazard associated with near-Earth objects such as asteroids and comets.[1][2] He is also a frequent trip leader for the MIT Alumni Association.