Warren B. Offutt (February 13, 1928 – September 20, 2017) was an American amateur
astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist in the field of astronomy who focuses their studies on a specific question or field outside the scope of Earth. They observe astronomical objects such as stars, planets, natural satellite, moons, comets and galaxy, g ...
and
amateur radio
Amateur radio, also known as ham radio, is the use of the radio frequency spectrum for purposes of non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, private recreation, radiosport, contesting, and emergency communic ...
operator.
Offutt 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 17
asteroid
An asteroid is a minor planet of the inner Solar System. Sizes and shapes of asteroids vary significantly, ranging from 1-meter rocks to a dwarf planet almost 1000 km in diameter; they are rocky, metallic or icy bodies with no atmosphere.
...
s
and has notably collaborated with professional astronomers in observing
Kuiper belt
The Kuiper belt () is a circumstellar disc in the outer Solar System, extending from the orbit of Neptune at 30 astronomical units (AU) to approximately 50 AU from the Sun. It is similar to the asteroid belt, but is far larger—20 times ...
objects (KBOs). In 1999 he won the
.
Offutt and his wife, Beverly (since deceased), moved from
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...
to New Mexico when he retired from engineering, specializing in precision
astrometry
Astrometry is a branch of astronomy that involves precise measurements of the positions and movements of stars and other celestial bodies. It provides the kinematics and physical origin of the Solar System and this galaxy, the Milky Way.
His ...
of faint objects in the Solar System. He operates the ''W & B Observatory'' () in the U.S. village of
Cloudcroft, New Mexico, in the
Sacramento Mountains
The Sacramento Mountains are a mountain range in the south-central part of the U.S. state of New Mexico, lying just east of Alamogordo in Otero County (small portions of the range lie in Lincoln County and Chaves County). From north to south, ...
, at an altitude of 2500 m (8300 ft).
In 1997, Offutt helped with three more major discoveries, among them confirmation of a then-newly discovered moon of
Uranus
Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun. Its name is a reference to the Greek god of the sky, Uranus (mythology), Uranus (Caelus), who, according to Greek mythology, was the great-grandfather of Ares (Mars (mythology), Mars), grandfather ...
,
Sycorax.
On 11 February 1998, the outer main-belt asteroid
7639 Offutt was named after him, just before his 70th birthday ().
References
External links
Discovery of two distant irregular moons of Uranus ''nature'', 11 February 1998
Warren B. Offutt Obituary www.legacy.com
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1928 births
20th-century American astronomers
21st-century American astronomers
Discoverers of asteroids
2017 deaths
People from Otero County, New Mexico
Amateur radio people