Norman G. Thomas


Norman Gene Thomas was an American astronomer and discoverer of minor planets.
He worked at Lowell Observatory using the blink comparator alongside Robert Burnham, Jr., author of the famous three-volume Celestial Handbook.
He is credited by the Minor Planet Center with the discovery of 55 numbered minor planets during 1964–1989, including the Apollo asteroids 4544 Xanthus and 4581 Asclepius, as well as the Amor asteroid 3352 McAuliffe.
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

2089 CetaceaNovember 9, 1977
2366 AarynJanuary 10, 1981
2527 GregorySeptember 3, 1981
2556 LouiseFebruary 8, 1981
2557 Putnam September 26, 1981
2558 VivSeptember 26, 1981
2612 KathrynFebruary 28, 1979
2683 BrianJanuary 10, 1981
2684 DouglasJanuary 3, 1981
2764 MoellerFebruary 8, 1981
2779 MaryFebruary 6, 1981
2895 MemnonJanuary 10, 1981
2927 AlamosaOctober 5, 1981
2933 AmberApril 18, 1983
2999 DanteFebruary 6, 1981
3117 NiepceFebruary 11, 1983
3151 TalbotApril 18, 1983
3256 Daguerre September 26, 1981
3352 McAuliffeFebruary 6, 1981
3367 AlexFebruary 15, 1983