Richard A. Kowalski
Encyclopedia
Richard A. Kowalski is an American astronomer
who has discovered numerous asteroid
s and other near-Earth objects.
Kowalski has had a lifelong interest in astronomy
with an emphasis on planetary science
. As an amateur in Florida during the 1990s he developed an interest in astrometric and photometric
observations of asteroids. He started the Minor Planet Mailing List in mid 1997. Kowalski discovered 14627 Emilkowalski
in 1998.
In 1999 he was invited to use the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
's 0.6-m Ritchey-Chrétien telescope
to make observations in support of the Deep Space 1
mission. Also in 1999 he was the Scientific Coordinator for the first Minor Planet Amateur-Professional Workshop at Lowell Observatory
in Flagstaff, Arizona
.
He has been a member of the Catalina Sky Survey
(CSS) in Tucson, Arizona since September, 2005 and has discovered hundreds of Near Earth
and main belt asteroids along with five comets. Of these, periodic comet 226P/Pigott-LINEAR-Kowalski was the recovery of Edward Pigott
's lost comet of 1783.
On October 6, 2008, while observing with the CSS 1.5 meter (60") telescope at the peak of Mount Lemmon
, he discovered . Approximately 20 hours after its discovery this asteroid entered the Earth's atmosphere over Sudan, becoming the first asteroid discovered before impact with the earth. Kowalski was honored with a small piece of . Asteroid 7392
is named in his honor.
Kowalski is a FAA
certified commercial pilot holding Instrument
and flight instructor
ratings. He also runs a free-lance photography studio in Tucson, Arizona
.
Astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist who studies celestial bodies such as planets, stars and galaxies.Historically, astronomy was more concerned with the classification and description of phenomena in the sky, while astrophysics attempted to explain these phenomena and the differences between them using...
who has discovered numerous asteroid
Asteroid
Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
s and other near-Earth objects.
Kowalski has had a lifelong interest in astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
with an emphasis on planetary science
Planetary science
Planetary science is the scientific study of planets , moons, and planetary systems, in particular those of the Solar System and the processes that form them. It studies objects ranging in size from micrometeoroids to gas giants, aiming to determine their composition, dynamics, formation,...
. As an amateur in Florida during the 1990s he developed an interest in astrometric and photometric
Photometry (astronomy)
Photometry is a technique of astronomy concerned with measuring the flux, or intensity of an astronomical object's electromagnetic radiation...
observations of asteroids. He started the Minor Planet Mailing List in mid 1997. Kowalski discovered 14627 Emilkowalski
14627 Emilkowalski
14627 Emilkowalski is a main-belt asteroid discovered on November 7, 1998 by Richard A. Kowalski at Quail Hollow Observatory. This asteroid is believed to result from the collisional destruction of a larger parent body approximately 220,000 years ago. It was named after the discover's father.-...
in 1998.
In 1999 he was invited to use the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center and NASA field center located in the San Gabriel Valley area of Los Angeles County, California, United States. The facility is headquartered in the city of Pasadena on the border of La Cañada Flintridge and Pasadena...
's 0.6-m Ritchey-Chrétien telescope
Ritchey-Chrétien telescope
A Ritchey–Chrétien telescope is a specialized Cassegrain telescope designed to eliminate coma, thus providing a large field of view compared to a more conventional configuration. An RCT has a hyperbolic primary and a hyperbolic secondary mirror. It was invented in the early 1910s by American...
to make observations in support of the Deep Space 1
Deep Space 1
Deep Space 1 is a spacecraft of the NASA New Millennium Program dedicated to testing a payload of advanced, high risk technologies....
mission. Also in 1999 he was the Scientific Coordinator for the first Minor Planet Amateur-Professional Workshop at Lowell Observatory
Lowell Observatory
Lowell Observatory is an astronomical observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. Lowell Observatory was established in 1894, placing it among the oldest observatories in the United States, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965....
in Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff is a city located in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States. In 2010, the city's population was 65,870. The population of the Metropolitan Statistical Area was at 134,421 in 2010. It is the county seat of Coconino County...
.
He has been a member of the Catalina Sky Survey
Catalina Sky Survey
Catalina Sky Survey is a project to discover comets and asteroids, and to search for Near-Earth objects. More specifically, to search for potentially hazardous asteroids , that may pose a threat of impact.-Mission:...
(CSS) in Tucson, Arizona since September, 2005 and has discovered hundreds of Near Earth
Near-Earth object
A near-Earth object is a Solar System object whose orbit brings it into close proximity with the Earth. All NEOs have a perihelion distance less than 1.3 AU. They include a few thousand near-Earth asteroids , near-Earth comets, a number of solar-orbiting spacecraft, and meteoroids large enough to...
and main belt asteroids along with five comets. Of these, periodic comet 226P/Pigott-LINEAR-Kowalski was the recovery of Edward Pigott
Edward Pigott
Edward Pigott was an English astronomer, and the son of astronomer Nathaniel Pigott and Anna Mathurine de Bériot . Probably born in Whitton, Middlesex, his elder brother, Charles Gregory, died in young age. He also had a younger sister, Mathurina...
's lost comet of 1783.
On October 6, 2008, while observing with the CSS 1.5 meter (60") telescope at the peak of Mount Lemmon
Mount Lemmon
Mount Lemmon is in the Santa Catalina Mountains located in the Coronado National Forest north of Tucson, Arizona, United States. It is above sea-level, and receives approximately 180 inches of snow annually. Mount Lemmon was named in honor of botanist Sarah Lemmon, who trekked to the top of...
, he discovered . Approximately 20 hours after its discovery this asteroid entered the Earth's atmosphere over Sudan, becoming the first asteroid discovered before impact with the earth. Kowalski was honored with a small piece of . Asteroid 7392
7392 Kowalski
7392 Kowalski is a main-belt asteroid discovered on March 6, 1984 by E. Bowell at the Anderson Mesa Station of the Lowell Observatory. It is named in honor of Richard A. Kowalski, currently a Research Specialist with the Catalina Sky Survey, when he was still an amateur astronomer.- External links...
is named in his honor.
Kowalski is a FAA
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
certified commercial pilot holding Instrument
Instrument rating
Instrument rating refers to the qualifications that a pilot must have in order to fly under IFR . It requires additional training and instruction beyond what is required for a Private Pilot certificate or Commercial Pilot certificate, including rules and procedures specific to instrument flying,...
and flight instructor
Flight instructor
A flight instructor is a person who teaches others to fly aircraft. Specific privileges granted to holders of a flight instructor qualification vary from country to country, but very generally, a flight instructor serves to enhance or evaluate the knowledge and skill level of an aviator in pursuit...
ratings. He also runs a free-lance photography studio in Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
.
External links
- Catalina Sky Survey home page
- A time-lapse video made the night 2008 TC3 was discovered
- Minor Planet Mailing List
- Full Moon Photography