Asteroids named after people called Donald
👶 Donald as a baby name🐶 Donald as a dog name
(2956) Yeomans
Named in honor of Donald K. Yeomans, celestial mechanician at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and discipline specialist for the astrometric team of the International Halley Watch. Well known for his orbit determinations that take account of the nongravitational forces acting on comets, he has made a detailed study of the motion of Halley's Comet back to the year -1404 and has analyzed the orbits of meteor showers and their relation to the orbits of parent comets. Citation prepared by S. J. Edberg and Z. Sekanina.Discovered 28 April 1982 by E. Bowell, Anderson Mesa
(4794) Bogard
Donald Bogard (b. 1940) of NASA's Johnson Space Center has been at the forefront of understanding the chronology of formation and impact alterations of solar system bodies using argon isotope measurements. He played a key role in recognizing the martian origin of some meteorites using analyses of trapped gases.Discovered 16 September 1988 by S. J. Bus, Cerro Tololo
(6107) Osterbrock
Named in honor of Donald E. Osterbrock (b. 1924), professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1958-1973) and at the University of California at Santa Cruz and UCO/Lick Observatory (1972-199 and director of the Lick Observatory (1973-1981). His research spans gaseous nebulae, interstellar matter, galactic structure, and quasars and active nuclei of galaxies, and he has authored a historical series on the life and work of several astronomers who played vital roles in the progress of American astronomy. Osterbrock served as president of the American Astronomical Society during 1987-1989. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Arts and Sciences. Citation prepared by A.R. Klemola.Discovered 14 January 1948 by C. A. Wirtanen, Mount Hamilton
(6478) Gault
Named in memory of Donald Gault (1923-1999), a giant in the field of impact cratering processes. Gault applied his understanding and insight as an experimentalist to interpreting impact data and its application to the moon, the earth, Mars and Mercury. His work is at the heart of the most basic of all processes concerned with solid bodies in the solar system. It is the “rock” upon which others tried to build.Discovered 12 May 1988 by Shoemaker, C. S., Shoemaker, E. M., Palomar
(6688) Donmccarthy
Since the 1970s, Donald W. McCarthy (b. 1948) has been an instrumental part of astronomy education and research at the University of Arizona. He specializes in infrared astronomy and instrumentation and has been an inspiration to his students and to the hundreds who have participated in his Astronomy Camps.Discovered 2 March 1981 by S. J. Bus, Siding Spring
(8875) Fernie
J. Donald Fernie (b. 1933), professor emeritus of astronomy at the University of Toronto and former director of the David Dunlap Observatory, is known for his work on variable stars, galactic structure, photoelectric photometry, and the history of astronomy of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.Discovered 22 October 1992 by E. Bowell, Palomar
(9122) Hunten
Donald M. Hunten (b. 1925), of the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, has studied the atmospheres of the planets and their satellites, participating in space missions from Pioneer to Cassini. He used mid-infrared spectroscopy to study the comet impacts on Jupiter and has studied Martian water vapor and lightning on Venus.Discovered 22 March 1998 by Spacewatch, Kitt Peak
(9177) Donsaari
Donald Gene Saari (b. 1940) is an American mathematician who has worked at the University of California, Irvine, and at Northwestern University. Don has made fundamental contributions to the n-body problem of celestial mechanics, voting theory, and the application of mathematics to the social sciences.Discovered 18 December 1990 by E. F. Helin, Palomar
(9295) Donaldyoung
Donald L. Young (b. 1935), recently retired from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, was responsible for building and directing NASA/JPL's Table Mountain Facility. In addition to conducting astronomical research, the facility is a centerpiece of the JPL educational outreach program. The name was suggested by C. Young.Discovered 2 September 1983 by E. Bowell, Anderson Mesa
(9448) Donaldavies
Donald W. Davies (1925-2000), a British expert in computer security, suggested in 1965 a robust multipath network between computers to divide data into small labeled packets and transmit them, on different paths if necessary, for reassembly at their destination. This is the basis for TCP-IP protocol in Internet communications.Discovered 5 June 1997 by Spacewatch, Kitt Peak
(11267) Donaldkessler
Donald J. Kessler (b. 1940) is the founder of the modern field of orbital debris, having worked as head of the orbital debris office at NASA from the time of its founding until 1996.Discovered 24 October 1981 by S. J. Bus, Palomar
(11419) Donjohnson
Donald Joe Johnson II (1959-2001) went from the field of aerospace to that of a testing engineer working towards the future. He was best known for his kindness, imagination and creativity in storytelling. In his stories he took friends and comrades to the stars in adventures with a brighter future for humanity.Discovered 16 May 1999 by Spacewatch, Kitt Peak
(12410) Donald Duck
Donald Duck, the famous character of Walt Disney's cartoons, has amused generations of children and adults alike.Discovered 26 September 1995 by Sicoli, P., Ghezzi, P., Sormano
(14164) Hennigar
Donald M. Hennigar (1887-1951) was an amateur telescope maker and active member of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, London Centre. He served as vice president of the London Centre during 1936-1938. He was staff architect with the London Life Insurance Company.Discovered 15 October 1998 by Spacewatch, Kitt Peak
(16111) Donstrittmatter
Donald J. Strittmatter (1935–2020) worked at Hughes Aircraft for 37 years retiring in 1994. He became President of the Tucson Amateur Astronomers in 1958 serving until 1976. In the late 1950s he was active in the Moonwatch program and known for photography of satellites and comets and teaching telescope making classes.Discovered 4 December 1999 by CSS, Catalina
(16255) Hampton
Donald L. Hampton (b. 1963), an atmospheric physicist at Ball Aerospace and Technology, has served as the system engineer for all the scientific instruments on the Deep Impact mission.Discovered 26 April 2000 by LONEOS, Anderson Mesa
(18115) Rathbun
Donald Rathbun (b. 1923) is a distinguished neurologist. Founder of the Epilepsy Association of El Paso, Rathbun also served on the Texas state board of United Cerebral Palsy, served as vice president of the State Development Disabilities Council and was elected to the Explorers Club.Discovered 5 July 2000 by LONEOS, Anderson Mesa
(18235) Lynden-Bell
Donald Lynden-Bell (b. 1935), professor at the University of Cambridge, is well known for his studies of the formation, structure and dynamics of galaxies, including the Milky Way.Discovered 29 September 1973 by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T., Palomar
(18775) Donaldeng
Donald Eng (b. 1987) was awarded third place in the 2003 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair for his engineering project. He attends the Stanton College Preparatory School, Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.A.Discovered 10 May 1999 by LINEAR, Socorro
(20022) Dontown
Donald Town (b. 1953) is a Canadian engineer, photographer and amateur astronomer who has served as President of the RASC Belleville Centre, and represented the club on the RASC National Council, where he was on the constitution committee. His extensive volunteer efforts have supported club events and public outreach. He won the RASC Service Award in 2017.Discovered 3 November 1991 by Spacewatch, Kitt Peak
(20106) Morton
Donald C. Morton (b. 1933) was director of the Anglo-Australian Observatory during 1976–1986 and of the Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics in Ottawa during 1986–2000. With a rocket he made the first ultraviolet spectral observations of stars. He played a leading role in the development of the Gemini Observatory.Discovered 20 August 1995 by D. D. Balam, Dominion
(20553) Donaldhowk
Donald Howk mentored a finalist in the 2004 Discovery Channel Youth Science Challenge (DCYSC), a middle school science competition. He teaches at the Keystone Junior High School, San Antonio, Texas.Discovered 9 September 1999 by LINEAR, Socorro
(21656) Knuth
Donald E. Knuth (b. 1938), professor of computer science at Stanford University, is author of The Art of Computer Programming, the fine typesetting system TeX and the METAFONT system. TeX has been used to produce a lot of the world's scientific literature in physics and mathematics, including the Minor Planet Circulars.Discovered 9 August 1999 by Pravec, P., Kusnirak, P., Ondrejov
(28793) Donaldpaul
Donald Paul (b. 1946) is a long-time member of Lowell Observatory's Advisory Board. Don supported the Giovale Open Deck Observatory with a TEC telescope which enhances visitors views of our solar system.Discovered 25 April 2000 by LONEOS, Anderson Mesa
(35364) Donaldpray
Donald Pray (b. 1949), of Carbuncle Hill Observatory, Rhode Island, is a highly productive member of the amateur community, making photometric observations of minor planets. He has helped confirm the binary nature of several minor planets and contributed to the statistical pool of spin rates.Discovered 21 October 1997 by P. Pravec, Ondrejov
(52246) Donaldjohanson
American paleoanthropologist Donald Carl Johanson (b. 1943) discovered the fossil of a female hominin australopithecine known as ‘Lucy’.Discovered 2 March 1981 by S. J. Bus, Siding Spring
(73704) Hladiuk
Donald W. Hladiuk (b. 1957) is a professional geologist in Calgary, Alberta. For over 20 years, he has presented sky highlights on a local radio morning show. He has led numerous astronomical expeditions with the Calgary chapter of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, of which he has twice been president.Discovered 6 October 1991 by A. Lowe, Palomar
(78578) Donpettit
Donald R. Pettit (b. 1955) flew on STS-113 to the International Space Station, where he spent over 5 1/2 months as science officer on Expedition 6. An avid amateur astronomer, Pettit recorded dozens of astrophotographs from ISS, most notably numerous 30-second and 60-second exposures of (4) Vesta.Discovered 14 September 2002 by R. Matson, Palomar
(103740) Budinger
Donald V. Budinger (b. 1942) is chairman and founding director of the Rodel Foundations dedicated to improving K-12 public education in Arizona and Delaware. He played a pivotal role in the creation of Science Foundation Arizona, which he currently serves as chairman.Discovered 6 February 2000 by R. Millis, Kitt Peak
(113950) Donbaldwin
Donald R. Baldwin (1938-2003), a co-founder and treasurer of the Astrophysical Research Consortium, was instrumental in assuring the success of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey.Discovered 4 October 2002 by Sloan Digital Sky Survey, Apache Point
(166748) Timrayschneider
Donald Schneider (b. 1955) is an American astronomer and a Sloan Digital Sky Survey builder, known for his work on high-redshift quasars. Tim and Ray are his sons.Discovered 5 October 2002 by Sloan Digital Sky Survey, Apache Point
(233472) Moorcroft
Donald Ross Moorcroft (b. 1935) is a Canadian physicist who did much to advance the field of radar backscatter from the auroral E-region ionosphere. He was the Chair of the Department of Physics of the University of Western Ontario from 1989 to 1998.Discovered 25 May 2006 by P. A. Wiegert, Mauna Kea
(245983) Machholz
Donald Edward Machholz Jr (b. 1952) is an American amateur astronomer. He discovered visually 11 new comets in 1978--2010 (including periodic comets 96P and 141P). He is one of the inventors of the Messier Marathon.Discovered 26 September 2006 by K. Cernis, Moletai
(249514) Donaldroyer
Donald Royer (b. 1942) is an expert in the systems needed to operate and communicate with NASA space missions. He served as the mission operations systems manager for the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer mission.Discovered 11 February 2010 by WISE, WISE