Norman Gene Thomas (May 1, 1930 - May 19, 2020) was an American astronomer and discoverer of minor planets. He worked at

Lowell Observatory Lowell Observatory is an astronomical observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, United States. Lowell Observatory was established in 1894, placing it among the oldest observatories in the United States, and was designated a National Historic Landmark ...

using the

blink comparator A blink comparator is a viewing apparatus formerly used by astronomers to find differences between two photographs of the night sky. It permits rapid switching from viewing one photograph to viewing the other, "blinking" back and forth between th ...

alongside

Robert Burnham, Jr. Robert Burnham Jr. (June 16, 1931 – March 20, 1993) was an American astronomer, best known for writing the classic three-volume ''Burnham's Celestial Handbook''. He is the discoverer of numerous asteroids including the Mars-crosser, Mars crossi ...

, author of the famous three-volume ''Celestial Handbook''. He is credited by the

Minor Planet Center The Minor Planet Center (MPC) is the official body for observing and reporting on minor planets under the auspices of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Founded in 1947, it operates at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Function ...

with the discovery of 55 numbered minor planets during 1964–1989, including the Apollo asteroids

4544 Xanthus 4544 Xanthus , provisional designation , is an asteroid, classified as near-Earth object of the Apollo group, approximately 1.3 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 31 March 1989, by astronomers Henry Holt and Norman Thomas at the Paloma ...

Dealing with the Threat of an Asteroid Striking the Earth: An AIAA Position Paper
at the

National Space Society The National Space Society (NSS) is an American international nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational and scientific organization specializing in space advocacy. It is a member of the Independent Charities of America and an annual participant in the Combi ...

and

4581 Asclepius 4581 Asclepius , provisional designation , is a sub-kilometer-sized asteroid, classified as near-Earth object and potentially hazardous asteroid of the Apollo group that makes close orbital passes with Earth. Discovered on 31 March 1989 by America ...

, as well as the

Amor Amor ("love" in Latin, Spanish and Portuguese) may refer to: Music Albums * ''Amor'' (Julio Iglesias album), 1982 * ''Amor'' (Andrea Bocelli album), 2006 Songs * "Amor" (Los Auténticos Decadentes song), 2000 * "Amor" (Cristian Castro song), 199 ...

asteroid

3352 McAuliffe 3352 McAuliffe (), provisional designation , is a rare-type asteroid and suspected binary system, classified as near-Earth object of the Amor group, approximately 2 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 6 February 1981, by American astro ...

. 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 ().

List of discovered minor planets

References

External links

Library of Congress Authorities
– Thomas, N. G. (Norman Gene), 1930-, (n89615892) 1930 births 20th-century British astronomers Discoverers of asteroids * 2020 deaths {{US-astronomer-stub