Donald Machholz

Donald Machholz
Born

Donald Edward Machholz
(1952-10-07) October 7, 1952
Portsmouth, Virginia, United States

Astronomer, visual discoverer of comets examines his 18" reflector telescope

Occupation Amateur Astronomer
Years active 1960–present
Spouse(s) Michele AnneLouise Machholz

Donald Edward Machholz, born October 7, 1952 in Portsmouth, Virginia, is an American amateur astronomer who is the most successful living visual comet discoverer in the world. Credited with the discovery of 11 comets, that include the periodic comets 96P/Machholz, 141P/Machholz, the non-periodic C/2004 Q2 (Machholz) that were visible with binoculars in the northern sky in 2004 and 2005, and most recently, C/2010 F4 (Machholz).[1][2] In 1985, comet Machholz 1985-e, was discovered using a homemade cardboard telescope with a wide aperture, 10 inches across, that gave it a broader field of view than most commercial telescopes.[3] Amateur astronomer Machholz utilizes a variety of methods in his comet discoveries, in 1986 using 29×130 binoculars he discovered 96P/Machholz. [4]

Machholz is also considered to be one of the inventors of the Messier marathon, which is a race to observe all the Messier objects in a single night.

Awards

Authored

Personal Life

In 2014 he married photojournalist and screenwriter, Michele AnneLouise Machholz.

References

  1. Gus Thomson (March 30, 2010). "Patience leads to new comet discovery by Colfax amateur astronomer". Auburn Journal. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  2. Roger W. Sinnott (March 27, 2010). "New Comet Machholz". Sky & Telescope. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  3. Associated Press (June 16, 1985). "Amateur Astronomer Nails Down His Second Comet". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 16, 1985. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  4. Alan MacRobert (December 2, 2008). "A Very Oddball Comet". Sky & Telescope. Retrieved December 2, 2008.

External links



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