Robert D. Stephens (born 1955) is an American amateur astronomer and a prolific photometrist of minor planets at the Center for Solar System Studies ( U81 ), Rancho Cucamonga in California, United States. [1] [2]
By profession, Stephens is a Certified Public Accountant in California since 1978, and has co-founded the accounting firm Fox & Stephens Inc. in 1988. [3]
Member of the American Astronomical Society and former president of the Riverside Astronomical Society, [4] Stephens became active in studying minor planets in 1999. Since then, he has obtained and published hundreds of rotational ±light curves of asteroids from photometric observations taken at the CS3–Trojan Station of the Center for Solar System Studies ( U81 ), Landers, in the Southern California desert, [1] where he collaborates with astronomers Daniel Coley ( U80 ) and Brian D. Warner ( U82 ). He is president of the astronomical research institution MoreData! Inc., as well as treasurer of the Society for Astronomical Sciences and the American Association of Variable Star Observers. [5]
Brett James Gladman is a Canadian astronomer and a full professor at the University of British Columbia's Department of Physics and Astronomy in Vancouver, British Columbia. He holds the Canada Research Chair in planetary astronomy. He does both theoretical work and observational optical astronomy.
Karen J. Meech is an American planetary astronomer at the Institute for Astronomy (IfA) of the University of Hawaii.
The RTMC Astronomy Expo was one of the major gatherings of amateur astronomers in the United States.
855 Newcombia is a stony background asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt. It was discovered on 3 April 1916, by astronomer Sergey Belyavsky at the Simeiz Observatory on the Crimean peninsula. The S-type asteroid has a notably short rotation period of 3.0 hours and measures approximately 12 kilometers in diameter. It was named after Canadian–American astronomer Simon Newcomb (1835–1909).
989 Schwassmannia is a stony background asteroid and a slow rotator from the central regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 12.5 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 18 November 1922, by astronomer Friedrich Karl Arnold Schwassmann at the Bergedorf Observatory in Hamburg, Germany. The bright S/T-type asteroid has a long rotation period of 107.9 hours. It was named after the discoverer himself.
James Whitney Young is an American astronomer who worked in the field of asteroid research. After nearly 47 years with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at their Table Mountain Facility, Young retired July 16, 2009.
5264 Telephus is a large Jupiter trojan from the Greek camp, approximately 70 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 17 May 1991, by American astronomer couple Carolyn and Eugene Shoemaker at the Palomar Observatory in California, and later named after King Telephus from Greek mythology. The dark and possibly elongated D-type asteroid belongs to the 50 largest Jupiter trojans and has a rotation period of 9.5 hours.
Stephen J. Edberg is a scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He is perhaps best known for creating collaborative efforts between amateur and professional astronomers. A professional astronomer since 1970, Edberg still considers himself to be an active amateur astronomer as well and is an active astronomical observer, photographer, and telescope maker. He presently serves as staff astronomer for the Solar System Exploration website posted by NASA Headquarters and staff scientist for Earth science communication and for Exoplanet Exploration communication.
3709 Polypoites is a large Jupiter trojan from the Greek camp, approximately 85 kilometers in diameter. The Trojan asteroid was discovered on 14 October 1985, by American astronomer Carolyn Shoemaker at the Palomar Observatory in California, United States, and named after Polypoites from Greek mythology. The dark D-type asteroid belongs to the 50 largest Jupiter trojans. It has a rotation period of 10 hours and possibly a spherical shape.
1173 Anchises is an unusually elongated Jupiter Trojan from the Trojan camp, approximately 124 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 17 October 1930, by German astronomer Karl Reinmuth at the Heidelberg Observatory in southwest Germany, and was the 9th such body to be discovered. The primitive P-type asteroid belongs to the largest Jupiter trojans, has an unusually smooth surface texture, the lowest spectral slope of all members of the Trojan camp, and a rotation period of 11.6 hours. It was named after Anchises from Greek mythology.
5027 Androgeos is a large Jupiter trojan from the Greek camp, approximately 59 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 21 January 1988, by American astronomer Carolyn Shoemaker at the Palomar Observatory in California. The dark D-type asteroid is one of the 70 largest Jupiter trojans and has a rotation period of 11.4 hours. It was named from Greek mythology after the warrior Androgeos, who was killed by Aeneas.
39890 Bobstephens, provisional designation 1998 FA3, is a stony asteroid from the middle region of the asteroid belt, approximately 2 kilometers in diameter. The asteroid was discovered on 23 March 1998, by Czech astronomer Petr Pravec at Ondřejov Observatory near Prague in the Czech Republic. It was named for American astronomer Robert Stephens.
4709 Ennomos is a large Jupiter trojan from the Trojan camp and the namesake of the small Ennomos family, approximately 81 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 12 October 1988, by American astronomer Carolyn Shoemaker at the Palomar Observatory in California. The relatively bright and possibly elongated Jovian asteroid belongs to the 40 largest Jupiter trojans and has a rotation period of 12.3 hours. It was named after Ennomus (Ennomos), a Trojan warrior killed by Achilles.
5130 Ilioneus is a dark Jupiter trojan from the Trojan camp, approximately 60 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 30 September 1989, by American astronomer Carolyn Shoemaker at the Palomar Observatory in California. The assumed C-type asteroid belongs to the 70 largest Jupiter trojans and has a rotation period of 14.8 hours. It was named after Ilioneus from Greek mythology.
3793 Leonteus is a large Jupiter trojan from the Greek camp, approximately 90 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 11 October 1985, by American astronomer couple Carolyn and Eugene Shoemaker at the Palomar Observatory in California, United States. The D-type Jovian asteroid belongs to the 30 largest Jupiter trojans and has a rotation period of 5.6 hours. It was named after the hero Leonteus from Greek mythology.
4836 Medon is a large Jupiter trojan from the Greek camp, approximately 68 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 2 February 1989, by American astronomer Carolyn Shoemaker at the Palomar Observatory in California. The dark asteroid has a rotation period of 9.82 hours and belongs to the 60 largest Jupiter trojans. It was named after the mythological Greek warrior Medon.
4833 Meges is a large Jupiter trojan from the Greek camp, approximately 85 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 8 January 1989, by American astronomer Carolyn Shoemaker at the Palomar Observatory in California. The D-type asteroid belongs to the 40 largest Jupiter trojans and has a rotation period of 14.25 hours. It was named after Meges from Greek mythology.
4348 Poulydamas is a large Jupiter Trojan from the Trojan camp, approximately 82 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 11 September 1988, by American astronomer Carolyn Shoemaker at the Palomar Observatory in California. The assumed C-type asteroid belongs to the 40 largest Jupiter trojans and has a rotation period of 9.9 hours. It was named after Poulydamas from Greek mythology.
4834 Thoas is a large Jupiter trojan from the Greek camp, approximately 86 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 11 January 1989, by astronomer Carolyn Shoemaker at the Palomar Observatory. The C-type asteroid is one of the 50 largest Jupiter trojans and has a rotation period of 18.19 hours. It was named after Thoas from Greek mythology.
1747 Wright, provisional designation 1947 NH, is a stony asteroid and a sizable Mars-crosser, approximately 6 kilometers in diameter.