Asteroids named after people called William
👶 William as a baby name🐶 William as a dog name🐱 William as a cat name
(1853) McElroy
Named in honor of William David McElroy, distinguished biologist and biochemist, chairman of the biology department at Johns Hopkins University during 1956-1969, later director of the National Science Foundation (1969-1972) and chancellor of the University of California at San Diego (1972-1980). During his tenure as director of N.S.F. the U.S. government decided to fund the Very Large Array, which will be the pre-eminent instrument for radio astronomy for many years to come.Discovered 15 December 1957 by Indiana University, Brooklyn
(2220) Hicks
Named in honor of William B. Hicks, alumnus of the California Institute of Technology, distinguished engineer, businessman and supporter of the sciences. Name proposed by E. F. Helin and E. M. Shoemaker.Discovered 4 November 1975 by E. F. Helin, Palomar
(3445) Pinson
William Hamet Pinson, Jr. (b. 1919), emeritus professor of geology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is known in particular for his extensive studies of the rubidium-strontium ratio in lunar rocks and soil, tektites, meteorites and meteorite craters. The name was suggested by P. Topalian.Discovered 16 March 1983 by E. Barr, Anderson Mesa
(3894) Williamcooke
Named in memory of William Ernest Cooke (1863-1947), government astronomer for Western Australia during 1896-1912 and first director of the Perth Observatory. His astronomical expertise and willingness to engage in international collaboration paved the way for the establishment of the Observatory and led to its involvement with the ‘Carte du Ciel’ project and the acquisition of all the plates for the declination zone −31° and −41°. During 1912-1926 Cooke was government astronomer for New South Wales, and he remains the only Sydney Observatory director to hold the post of professor of astronomy at Sydney University at the same time. Name suggested and citation provided by J. Biggs and P. Birch.Discovered 14 August 1980 by Jekabsons, P., Candy, M. P., Bickley
(4137) Crabtree
William Crabtree (1610-1644), a cloth merchant in Salford, near Manchester, became the second person knowingly to observe a transit of Venus, after he had been alerted to the 1639 event by Jeremiah Horrocks.Discovered 24 November 1970 by L. Kohoutek, Bergedorf
(4423) Golden
William T. Golden (b. 1909), author-editor of books on science policy, has served as treasurer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science for more than 30 years. Original architect of the office of science advisor to the U.S. president, he also played a key role in establishing the National Science Foundation.Discovered 4 April 1949 by Indiana University, Brooklyn
(4838) Billmclaughlin
Named in honor of William I. McLaughlin (b. 1935) on the occasion of his retirement from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where he made innovative contributions to many projects, including Viking, Seasat, the Infrared Astronomical Satellite and Voyager (Uranus), and to the management of two technical sections. He also served as deputy manager of the astrophysics and fundamental physics program office. For 14 years McLaughlin wrote a column in Spaceflight called “Space at JPL”. He takes a special interest in philosophy, mathematics, astronomy and epistemology, as well as space exploration and has written numerous papers.Discovered 2 July 1989 by E. F. Helin, Palomar
(5345) Boynton
William Boynton (b. 1944), professor of cosmochemistry and geochemistry at the University of Arizona, has measured elemental abundances in meteorites as a means of probing the early history of the solar system. He is the team leader for the γ-ray spectrometer on the Mars Odyssey spacecraft.Discovered 1 March 1981 by S. J. Bus, Siding Spring
(5763) Williamtobin
William John Tobin (1953–2022) was the English-born former director of Mt. John Observatory. He studied spectra and photometry of blue stars, eclipsing binaries in the Magellanic Clouds, and the dust disk around β Pictoris. His publications include a definitive biography of Léon Foucault and a history of southern expeditions for the transit of Venus.Discovered 23 June 1982 by Gilmore, A. C., Kilmartin, P. M., Lake Tekapo
(6012) Williammurdoch
William Murdoch (1754-1839) was a Scottish engineer, whose wide ranging inventions and developments were often unacknowledged in his lifetime. These developments include gas lighting, the pneumatic messaging system, the steam gun, advances in steam engines, and locomotion on land and sea.Discovered 22 September 1990 by R. H. McNaught, Siding Spring
(6613) Williamcarl
William Carl Hergenrother (b. 1946) is the father of the discoverer.Discovered 2 June 1994 by C. W. Hergenrother, Catalina Station
(6756) Williamfeldman
William C. Feldman (b. 1940) is the father of planetary neutron spectroscopy. His ingeniously designed instruments found evidence for ice at the lunar poles, Mercury's north pole, and in the high-latitude subsurface of Mars. He is loved for his open and generous collaborations and unrelenting enthusiasm for science.Discovered 7 November 1978 by Helin, E. F., Bus, S. J., Palomar
(7355) Bottke
Named in honor of William F. Bottke, Jr., known for his research on the collisional and dynamical evolution of minor planets. He has also contributed to the study of the origin and evolution of NEAs, in particular by analyzing the formation of doublet craters found on the terrestrial planets.Discovered 25 April 1995 by Spacewatch, Kitt Peak
(7607) Billmerline
Named in honor of William J. Merline (b. 1954), planetary scientist at the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado, and a dedicated instrumentalist and observer. While a graduate student at the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory he codiscovered periodic variations of the radial velocity of the star Arcturus. He made thousands of hours of observations for a search for planets orbiting other stars and a study of the stability of the solar spectrum. He is now a member of the imaging team of the Galileo mission, studying cratering records from spacecraft imagery. He is also conducting a search for satellites of minor planets using coronagraphic imaging with ground-based telescopes.Discovered 18 September 1995 by Spacewatch, Kitt Peak
(7812) Billward
Named in honor of William R. Ward (b. 1943), an accomplished theoretician who specializes in dynamics and celestial mechanics. Ward has made fundamental contributions to a wide variety of topics in modern planetary science, including both solar nebula and circumplanetary disk dynamics, the origin of the moon, planetesimal formation, planetary ring dynamics, and martian obliquity variations and their coupling to planetwide climatological change. Ward has spent most of his career at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Southwest Research Institute, Boulder. Both his talents and his good spirits are enjoyed by colleagues around the world. Name proposed and citation written by S. A. Stern.Discovered 26 October 1984 by E. Bowell, Anderson Mesa
(7824) Lynch
Named in honor of William Lynch III of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and an outstanding model of efficiency, friendliness and dedication to his work and responsibilities. He is the epitome of the NASA/JPL motto, “Faster, better and cheaper”, in the sense that anyone who works in a highly-charged, positive fashion, streamlined for action, leads to a more successful and economical operation. Always with a big smile and a cheerful greeting, he is one of JPL's biggest assets.Discovered 7 September 1991 by E. F. Helin, Palomar
(7864) Borucki
William Borucki (b. 1939) founded and developed the Kepler mission that led to the discovery of numerous exoplanetary systems and to significant contributions to stellar astrophysics and astroseismology of evolving stars. He also determined plasma properties of hypervelocity shock waves that were used in the heat shield of the Apollo missions.Discovered 14 March 1982 by A. Mrkos, Klet
(8003) Kelvin
William Thomson (Lord Kelvin, 1824-1907), well known for the absolute temperature scale, contributed to modern physics through his major role in the development of the second law of thermodynamics. His theoretical work on submarine telegraphy led to the laying of the first transatlantic cable.Discovered 1 September 1987 by E. W. Elst, La Silla
(8030) Williamknight
Air Force test pilot William Knight (1929-2004) was the tenth pilot to fly the X-15 and made a total of 16 flights. These included the fastest X-15 flight, which reached Mach 6.7, and another flight to 69600 meters for which he received astronaut wings.Discovered 29 September 1991 by R. H. McNaught, Siding Spring
(8031) Williamdana
NASA research pilot William Dana (b. 1930) was the eleventh pilot to fly the X-15 and made a total of 16 flights. These included a 1967 flight to 93500 meters and he received NASA astronaut wings in 2005. Dana made the 199th and final X-15 flight in 1968 and subsequently flew the M2-F3 and HL-10 lifting bodies.Discovered 7 March 1992 by Ueda, S., Kaneda, H., Kushiro
(8457) Billgolisch
William F. Golisch (b. 1958) has been a telescope operator for the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility on Mauna Kea since 1984. His expertise and dedication to observers have helped facilitate observations used in hundreds of planetary research projects.Discovered 1 March 1981 by S. J. Bus, Siding Spring
(8630) Billprady
William Scott Prady (b. 1960) is an American television writer and producer. He is co-creator and executive producer of the situation comedy The Big Bang Theory.Discovered 2 March 1981 by S. J. Bus, Siding Spring
(8745) Delaney
Named in honor of William P. Delaney, director's fellow at M.I.T. Lincoln Laboratory. This is a donation of the fruit of an optical search program to an expert in radar.Discovered 20 March 1998 by LINEAR, Socorro
(8814) Rosseven
William Brendan Parsons, Seventh Earl of Rosse (b. 1936), was inspired to restore the 1.8-m reflecting telescope (the “Leviathan of Parsonstown”) at Birr Castle, County Offaly, Ireland, to full working order. The task took three years and was completed in 1999. The name was suggested by S. Mitton.Discovered 1 December 1983 by E. Bowell, Anderson Mesa
(9116) Billhamilton
William O. Hamilton (b. 1933), professor of physics and astronomy at Louisiana State University, is a pioneer in the development of an observational technique for gravitational radiation.Discovered 7 March 1997 by M. W. Buie, Anderson Mesa
(9340) Williamholden
William Holden (1918-1981) was a screen actor admired for his work in Picnic (1955), with Kim Novak, and in The Bridge over the River Kwai, with David Niven. He is also the initiator of a wildlife foundation in Kenya.Discovered 6 June 1991 by E. W. Elst, La Silla
(9398) Bidelman
William P. Bidelman (b. 1918) was director of the Warner and Swasey Observatory during 1970–1975 and professor of astronomy at Case Western Reserve University (formerly Case Institute of Technology) during 1970–1986. He is a leader in stellar classification and the identification of chemically peculiar stars.Discovered 28 September 1994 by Spacewatch, Kitt Peak
(9526) Billmckinnon
William B. McKinnon (b. 1954) is a professor of planetary science at Washington University in St. Louis. His research focuses on the physics of impact cratering for surfaces of rocky and icy bodies, ranging from the Jovian satellite system to the Kuiper Belt.Discovered 1 March 1981 by S. J. Bus, Siding Spring
(9899) Greaves
William Michael Herbert Greaves (1897–1955) was a British astronomer, making advances in spectrophotometry and defining spectrophotometric standards. He was the 6th Astronomer Royal for Scotland. As an elder statesman of British astronomy, he was a strong advocate for the proposed Jodrell Bank radio telescope.Discovered 12 March 1996 by R. H. McNaught, Siding Spring
(9930) Billburrows
William E. Burrows (b. 1937), of New York University, is a top authority on space, national security, spy satellites and spy planes. His books are extensively researched and detailed, yet enjoyably readable; they include, among others, Deep Black and Exploring Space. The name was suggested by E. M. Standish.Discovered 5 February 1984 by E. Bowell, Anderson Mesa
(10080) Macevans
William MacDonald “Mac” Evans (b. 1942) was born in Sarnia, Canada. He completed his undergraduate studies at Queen’s University and earned a MSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Birmingham. He was President of the Canadian Space Agency (1994–2001), won the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal and is a Member of the Order of Canada.Discovered 18 July 1990 by E. F. Helin, Palomar
(10316) Williamturner
The “Father of English Botany”, William Turner (1508-1568), is best known for his book A New Herball.Discovered 22 September 1990 by E. W. Elst, La Silla
(10900) Folkner
William Folkner (b. 1956), a principal scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, is a recognized authority on the planetary ephemerides. He continually improves the orbital positions of all the planets using a wide variety of ground-based and space-based observations.Discovered 30 November 1997 by T. Kobayashi, Oizumi
(10937) Ferris
William D. Ferris (b. 1961), a video producer-director at Northern Arizona University, has been an assiduous and successful observer for LONEOS since 1998.Discovered 27 August 1998 by LONEOS, Anderson Mesa
(10967) Billallen
William H. Allen (b. 1939), an electrical engineer and amateur astronomer, erected his private observatory with a 0.32-m telescope in Rapaura, New Zealand. He has participated in photometric campaigns on cataclysmic variables, notably η Carinae, as well as on stellar occultations by minor planets.Discovered 26 March 1971 by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T., Palomar
(11017) Billputnam
William L. Putnam (b. 1924) is the Trustee of the Lowell Observatory.Discovered 16 January 1983 by E. Bowell, Anderson Mesa
(11150) Bragg
William Lawrence Bragg (1890-1971), born in Adelaide, shared the 1915 Nobel Prize in physics with his father, W. H. Bragg. W. L. Bragg's work in x-ray diffraction led to techniques used to reveal the structure of molecules such as DNA and proteins.Discovered 21 December 1997 by F. B. Zoltowski, Woomera
(11216) Billhubbard
William B. Hubbard (b. 1940) is a planetary scientist studying interiors and atmospheres at the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory of the University of Arizona, where he was also director during 1977--1981. His studies include the structure and evolution of Jupiter, Saturn and extrasolar giant planets.Discovered 8 May 1999 by CSS, Catalina
(11418) Williamwang
William Wang (b. 2001) was a finalist in the 2019 Regeneron Science Talent Search, a science competition for high school seniors, for his materials science project. He attended the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.Discovered 13 May 1999 by LINEAR, Socorro
(11511) Billknopf
William Knopf (b. 1959) is an American Program Executive in the Planetary Science Division, NASA HQ, Washington, DC with expertise in physics, computer science and project management. He has participated in and overseen numerous projects, programs and spacecraft missions, including AMMOS, Cassini, EPOXI, Grail, Janus, Lunar Trailblazer, Psyche and VERITAS.Discovered 18 November 1990 by E. F. Helin, Palomar
(11675) Billboyle
William Boyle (b. 1924) co-invented the CCD while at Bell Laboratories in 1969. This device has revolutionized both amateur and professional astronomy. This minor planet was automatically detected by a CCD during an amateur survey.Discovered 15 February 1998 by P. Antonini, Bedoin
(12137) Williefowler
William Alfred Fowler (1911-1995) was a nuclear astrophysicist who measured in the laboratory at Caltech the nuclear reactions that occur at lower energies in stars. He also worked on theories of supernovae and early nucleosynthesis.Discovered 24 September 1960 by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T., Palomar
(12597) Williamdaniel
William Wade Daniel (b. 2006) was a finalist in the 2019 Broadcom MASTERS, a math and science competition for middle-school students, for his animal science project. He attended the First Baptist Church School, Shreveport, Louisiana.Discovered 9 September 1999 by LINEAR, Socorro
(12613) Hogarth
William Hogarth (1697-1764) was an English painter and copper-plate engraver. His rendition of life at his time was often humorous and satirical. He fought to ensure copyright protection for designers and engravers, and “Hogarth's Act” was passed by Parliament in 1735.Discovered 24 September 1960 by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T., Palomar
(13113) Williamyeats
Irish poet William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) was an Irish poet, winner of the Nobel prize for literature in 1923. He was known for his highly artistic form that gave expression to the spirit of a whole nation. On his grave in County Sligo is the advice “Cast a cold Eye On life, on death. Horseman, pass by!”Discovered 15 September 1993 by E. W. Elst, La Silla
(13339) Williamsmith
William Smith mentored a finalist in the 2019 Broadcom MASTERS, a math and science competition for middle-school students. He teaches at the Discovery Middle School, Madison, Alabama.Discovered 26 September 1998 by LINEAR, Socorro
(13943) Hankgreen
William Henry ‘Hank’ Green II (b. 1980) is an American science communicator, author, and creator. He has produced and hosted multiple educational online resources and podcasts, some with his brother, John Green. He frequently discusses topics related to science, including a regular update on the News from Mars segment of the Dear Hank & John podcast.Discovered 26 April 1990 by E. F. Helin, Palomar
(14876) Dampier
William Dampier (1651-1715) was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the world three times. The British Admiralty, very much impressed by his book A New Voyage Round the World, gave him the command of a Royal Navy ship which led to important discoveries in Western Australia.Discovered 18 November 1990 by E. W. Elst, La Silla
(14989) Tutte
William Tutte (1918-2002), an expert in combinatorics, was a faculty member at the University of Toronto for 14 years and then joined the faculty of the University of Waterloo in 1962.Discovered 25 October 1997 by Spacewatch, Kitt Peak
(15045) Walesdymond
William Wales and Joseph Dymond were two young Yorkshire men sent to the shores of Hudson Bay by the Royal Society of London to observe the transit of Venus on 1769 June 3. They stayed for over a year at Fort Prince of Wales, near modern-day Churchill, Manitoba.Discovered 10 December 1998 by Spacewatch, Kitt Peak
(15058) Billcooke
William Joe Cooke, Jr., (b. 1958) studied at Valdosta State University and the University of Florida. Cooke generates custom meteor activity forecasts. The name was suggested by R. Jedicke and P. Jedicke.Discovered 22 December 1998 by Spacewatch, Kitt Peak
(15760) Albion
In the creation mythology of William Blake (1757-1827), Albion is the island-dwelling primordial man who divided himself into the four Zoas (Urthona, Urizen, Luvah and Tharmas), each representing important aspects of human character.Discovered 30 August 1992 by Jewitt, D. C., Luu, J. X., Mauna Kea
(15846) Billfyfe
William Sefton Fyfe (b. 1927) is a geochemist who studied in New Zealand. He spent time in California and England and then was chair of the department of geology and dean of science at the University of Western Ontario. The name was suggested by R. Jedicke and P. Jedicke.Discovered 20 October 1995 by Spacewatch, Kitt Peak
(15849) Billharper
William Leonard Harper (b. 1943) specializes in the philosophy of science. He earned a Ph.D. at the University of Rochester and has been in the department of philosophy at the University of Western Ontario since 1970. The name was suggested by R. Jedicke and P. Jedicke.Discovered 18 December 1995 by Spacewatch, Kitt Peak
(16037) Sheehan
Astronomy historian and psychiatrist William Patrick Sheehan (b. 1954) is a prolific author and the biographer of E. E. Barnard. He has traced the development of early studies of the moon and planets and of the Milky Way, and he has solved several long-standing puzzles in the history of astronomy.Discovered 10 April 1999 by LONEOS, Anderson Mesa
(16089) Lamb
William Lamb mentored a finalist in the 2003 Intel Science Talent Search, a science competition for high school seniors. He teaches at the Oregon Episcopal School, Portland, Oregon.Discovered 7 October 1999 by LINEAR, Socorro
(16247) Esner
Named in honor of William Esner for mentoring a finalist in the 2002 Intel Science Talent Search, a science competition for high school seniors. Esner is a teacher at the Rambam Mesivta, Lawrence, New York.Discovered 28 April 2000 by LINEAR, Socorro
(16258) Willhayes
Named in honor of William Hayes for mentoring a finalist in the 2002 Intel Science Talent Search, a science competition for high school seniors. Hayes is a teacher at the Bloomington High School North, Bloomington, Indiana.Discovered 6 May 2000 by LINEAR, Socorro
(18106) Blume
William H. Blume (b. 1948), a senior mission designer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, has played a key role in the development of the Deep Impact mission to comet 9P/Tempel.Discovered 4 July 2000 by LONEOS, Anderson Mesa
(18568) Thuillot
William Thuillot (b. 1951) works at the Institut de Mécanique Céleste on the theory of the motions of Jupiter's Galilean satellites, including analysis of observations of eclipses by the planet and mutual phenomena. He has also been active observing stellar occultations by minor planets.Discovered 3 October 1997 by ODAS, Caussols
(19719) Glasser
William Glasser (b. 1925) is a psychiatrist who developed the concepts of Choice Theory and Reality Therapy. Recent publications that emphasize promoting mental health include Choice Theory (1998), Every Student Can Succeed (2000) and Counseling with Choice Theory (2001).Discovered 9 November 1999 by C. W. Juels, Fountain Hills
(19769) Dolyniuk
William Dolyniuk mentored a finalist in the 2003 Discovery Channel Youth Science Challenge, a middle school science competition. He teaches at the Woodside Elementary School, Woodside, California.Discovered 23 July 2000 by LINEAR, Socorro
(20234) Billgibson
William C. Gibson (b. 1945) is the payload manager of the New Horizons Pluto Kuiper Belt mission. Additionally, he has been responsible for the development of numerous instruments that have studied the earth's magnetosphere, the planets and comets.Discovered 6 January 1998 by M. W. Buie, Anderson Mesa
(20361) Romanishin
William Romanishin (b. 1952) is a professor of astronomy at the University of Oklahoma. An expert in imaging faint objects using CCD cameras, Romanishin has recently concentrated on observing Kuiper Belt Objects. With Stephen Tegler, he discovered the bimodal nature of centaur colors.Discovered 1 May 1998 by LONEOS, Anderson Mesa
(21148) Billramsey
William D. Ramsey (b. 1934) helped organize and inventory the Palomar Observatory's 1.2-m Oschin Telescope plate archive. He also helped refurbish for public display the famous Michelson 6-meter interferometer, which was used atop the Hooker 2.5-m telescope at the Mt. Wilson Observatory.Discovered 16 April 1993 by Shoemaker, C. S., Shoemaker, E. M., Palomar
(21276) Feller
William Feller (1906-1970) studied at Zagreb and Göttingen and taught at Kiel, Stockholm, Brown University and Cornell University. He was one of the founders of the modern probability theory based on concepts of measure theory.Discovered 8 October 1996 by P. G. Comba, Prescott
(21350) Billgardner
William David Anstruther Gardner (b. 1974) is an amateur astronomer in Ingersoll, Ontario, active in the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, London Centre. Name suggested by R. and P. Jedicke.Discovered 11 March 1997 by Spacewatch, Kitt Peak
(21476) Petrie
William Flinders Petrie (1853-1942), grandson of British explorer Matthew Flinders, was a self-taught surveyor and archaeologist. His methods of meticulous excavation, recording and sequential dating became standard practice in the field. He has been called the father of modern archaeology.Discovered 28 April 1998 by J. Broughton, Reedy Creek
(21609) Williamcaleb
William Caleb Rodgers (b. 1987) was awarded second place in the 2006 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair for his engineering team project. He attends the Paulding County High School, Dallas, Georgia, U.S.A.Discovered 10 May 1999 by LINEAR, Socorro
(21821) Billryan
William H. Ryan (b. 1962) is an astrophysicist at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology's Magdalena Ridge Observatory. Ryan discovered that (3782) Celle has a companion, making it the first identified binary vestoid; and later, that vestoid (3703) Volkonskaya is also binary.Discovered 12 October 1999 by LONEOS, Anderson Mesa
(22005) Willnelson
William Nelson mentored a finalist in the 2005 Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge (DCYSC), a middle school science competition. He teaches at the Citrus Springs Middle School, Citrus Springs, Florida.Discovered 7 December 1999 by LINEAR, Socorro
(22161) Santagata
William Santagata mentored a finalist in the 2005 Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge (DCYSC), a middle school science competition. He teaches at the North Attleboro Middle School, North Attleboro, Massachusetts.Discovered 29 November 2000 by LINEAR, Socorro
(22583) Metzler
William Metzler mentored a finalist in the 2006 Intel Science Talent Search (STS), a science competition for high school seniors. He teaches at the Highland High School, Highland, New York.Discovered 21 April 1998 by LINEAR, Socorro
(22786) Willipete
William Garrett Pete (b. 1995) is a finalist in the 2006 Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge (DCYSC), a middle school science competition, for his physical science project. He attends the Christina Huddleston Elementary School, Lakeville, Minnesota.Discovered 12 May 1999 by LINEAR, Socorro
(22872) Williamweber
William James Weber mentored a finalist in the 2006 Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge (DCYSC), a middle school science competition. He teaches at the Christina Huddleston Elementary School, Lakeville, Minnesota.Discovered 7 September 1999 by LINEAR, Socorro
(23172) Williamartin
William Campbell Martin (b. 1989) was awarded first place and Best in Category in the 2007 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair for his materials and bioengineering project. He attends the Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy, Saginaw, Michigan, U.S.A.Discovered 29 April 2000 by LINEAR, Socorro
(23712) Willpatrick
William Patrick Dillon (b. 1992), son of the discoverers, was with them on the discovery night: “Daddy, I want to go home now. This place is cold and spooky.” “Just one more image, son. Keep your eyes on the heavens!”Discovered 1 January 1998 by Dillon, W. G., Dillon, E. R., Needville
(23776) Gosset
William Sealy Gosset (1876-1937) studied mathematics and chemistry at Oxford. His most important contribution, published under the pseudonym “Student”, was the derivation of a statistic, known as “t”, that plays a central role in tests of hypotheses based on the analysis of small samples.Discovered 17 August 1998 by P. G. Comba, Prescott
(24464) Williamkalb
William B. Kalb (b. 1990) was awarded second place in the 2008 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair for his materials and bioengineering project. He attends the Horace Mann School, Riverdale, New York, U.S.A.Discovered 24 September 2000 by LINEAR, Socorro
(24931) Noeth
William Noeth mentored a finalist in the 2012 Intel Science Talent Search, a science competition for high-school seniors. He teaches at the Acton-Boxborough Regional High School, Acton, Massachusetts.Discovered 3 April 1997 by LINEAR, Socorro
(25082) Williamhodge
William Vallance Douglas Hodge (1903-1975) studied at Edinburgh and Cambridge and in 1936 was elected to the Lowndean chair of astronomy and geometry at Cambridge. His mathematical work was in algebraic geometry, specifically the theory of harmonic integrals and their applications to analysis.Discovered 15 September 1998 by P. G. Comba, Prescott
(25481) Willjaysun
William Jayang Sun (b. 1991) is a finalist in the 2009 Intel Science Talent Search (STS), a science competition for high school seniors, for his biochemistry project. He attends the Parkway Central High School, Chesterfield, Missouri.Discovered 7 December 1999 by LINEAR, Socorro
(26513) Newberry
William Cummings Newberry (b. 1991) was awarded first place in the 2010 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair for his materials-and-bioengineering project. He attends the Greenwich High School, Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S.A.Discovered 2 February 2000 by LINEAR, Socorro
(26671) Williamlopes
William Lopes (b. 1989) was awarded second place in the 2010 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair for his microbiology project. He attends the Fundacao Escola Tecnica Liberato Salzano Vieira da Cunha, Novo Hamburgo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.Discovered 19 February 2001 by LINEAR, Socorro
(27054) Williamgoddard
William H. Goddard (b. 1942) is a member of Lowell Observatory's Advisory Board. He serves on Lowell's Investment Committee and has been a long-time member and Friend of Lowell Observatory.Discovered 18 September 1998 by LONEOS, Anderson Mesa
(27458) Williamwhite
William Henry White (b. 1997) is a finalist in the 2011 Broadcom MASTERS, a math and science competition for middle-school students, for his animal and plant sciences project. He attends the Hilton Head Preparatory School, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.Discovered 5 April 2000 by LINEAR, Socorro
(27556) Williamprem
William Prem mentored a finalist in the 2011 Broadcom MASTERS, a math and science competition for middle-school students. He teaches at the Central Middle School, Eden Prairie, Minnesota.Discovered 6 May 2000 by LINEAR, Socorro
(27963) Hartkopf
US astronomer William I. Hartkopf (b. 1951), president of IAU Commission 26 (Double and Multiple Stars) from 2003 to 2006, made important contributions to double-star orbit determinations and speckle interferometric observations. In 2009 he was awarded the Simon Newcomb award of the U.S. Naval Observatory.Discovered 25 September 1997 by Pravec, P., Wolf, M., Ondrejov
(28037) Williammonts
William Lowell Monts (b. 1997) is a finalist in the 2012 Broadcom MASTERS, a math and science competition for middle-school students, for his physical sciences project. He attends the Cross Schools, Bluffton, South Carolina.Discovered 20 March 1998 by LINEAR, Socorro
(29132) Bradpitt
William Bradley Pitt (b. 1963), an American screen actor, has received a Golden Globe Award and many other awards for his acting talent. Best known for his role as Achilles in the 2004 movie Troy, he is a generous supporter of several humanitarian organizations.Discovered 22 January 1987 by E. W. Elst, La Silla
(29432) Williamscott
William Scott mentored a finalist in the 2012 Intel Science Talent Search, a science competition for high-school seniors. He teaches at the Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts.Discovered 3 April 1997 by LINEAR, Socorro
(29614) Sheller
William Sheller (b. 1949) is a French composer, singer and pianist. He studied classical music but after listening to the Beatles decided he would play rock and roll. He has since found great success in France and has composed and interpreted progressive rock as well as symphonic rock.Discovered 22 September 1998 by ODAS, Caussols
(30032) Kuszmaul
William Henry Kuszmaul (b. 1996) is a finalist in the 2014 Intel Science Talent Search, a science competition for high school seniors, for his mathematics project. He attends the Lexington High School, Lexington, Massachusetts.Discovered 29 February 2000 by LINEAR, Socorro
(31501) Williamhang
William C. Hang (b. 1997) was awarded second place in the 2014 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair for his computer science project. He attends the Scripps Ranch High School, San Diego, California, U.S.A.Discovered 12 February 1999 by LINEAR, Socorro
(31507) Williamjin
William Huang Jin (b. 1995) was awarded second place in the 2014 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair for his microbiology project. He attends the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology, Lawrenceville, Georgia, U.S.A.Discovered 12 February 1999 by LINEAR, Socorro
(31556) Shatner
William Shatner (b. 1931) is a Canadian actor. Best known for portraying Captain James Tiberius Kirk in Star Trek, he has attained the status of cultural icon. His character has inspired people to become writers, researchers, pilots and astronauts. Shatner is also a well-known author and director.Discovered 13 March 1999 by R. A. Tucker, Goodricke-Pigott
(32101) Williamyin
William Yin (b. 1999) was awarded second place in the 2015 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair for his materials science project. He attends the Greenwich High School, Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S.A.Discovered 29 May 2000 by LINEAR, Socorro
(33263) Willhutch
William Hutchinson mentored a finalist in the 2016 Broadcom MASTERS, a math and science competition for middle school students. He teaches at the Louise A. Benton Middle School, Manassas, Virginia.Discovered 21 April 1998 by LINEAR, Socorro
(34323) Williamrose
William Rose mentored a finalist in the 2018 Regeneron Science Talent Search, a science competition for high school seniors. He teaches at the Montgomery Blair High School, Silver Spring, Maryland.Discovered 29 August 2000 by LINEAR, Socorro
(34336) Willjenkins
William Vaughn Jenkins (b. 2004) was a finalist in the 2018 Broadcom MASTERS, a math and science competition for middle school students, for his electrical and mechanical engineering project. He attended the Westminster Schools, Atlanta, Georgia.Discovered 31 August 2000 by LINEAR, Socorro
(35394) Countbasie
William James “Count” Basie (1904-1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader and composer. One of the greatest jazz musicians of the 20th century, he founded the Count Basie Orchestra in 1935 and left an impressive discography.Discovered 7 December 1997 by ODAS, Caussols
(40457) Williamkuhn
William Kuhn (b. 1918) lives in Orange, California. He designed and directed the building of the 0.55-m Kuhn telescope in Anza for the Orange County Astronomers. This telescope has been used for the discovery of numerous minor planets. Kuhn has dedicated his life to educating, assisting and inspiring astronomers of all ages.Discovered 4 September 1999 by Collins, M., White, M., Anza
(40776) Yeungkwongyu
Canadian amateur astronomer William Kwong Yu Yeung (b. 1960) is one of the world's most prolific amateur discoverers of asteroids. He has also found comets and J002E3, believed to be the Apollo 12 S-IVB stage.Discovered 7 October 1999 by R. A. Tucker, Goodricke-Pigott
(43501) Oldroyd
William J. Oldroyd (b. 1992) is an American planetary scientist and a postdoctoral Scholar at Northern Arizona University (NAU). His 2022 Ph.D. dissertation, also from NAU, investigated dynamical relationships between a hypothesized planet in the outer solar system and its gravitational effect on other distant minor planets.Discovered 1 February 2001 by LONEOS, Anderson Mesa
(50855) Williamschultz
William Schultz, Jr. (1904–1975) was with the Cranbrook school system in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan from 1930 to 1969. A man of many interests (astronomy, mineralogy, ham radio), he refurbished the Cranbrook (now Hulbert) Observatory. He built their first planetarium, becoming the first Resident Astronomer.Discovered 30 March 2000 by CSS, Catalina
(53025) Willnoel
William Gerard Noel (1965–2024) was a British-American medieval manuscript expert, who served as Associate University Librarian for Special Collections at Princeton University. He led the Archimedes Palimpsest Project, which revealed a lost codex of Archimedes.Discovered 16 November 1998 by CSS, Catalina
(55320) Busler
William J. Busler (b. 1944) has had a long and distinguished career as a researcher and teacher in the field of biochemistry. He has also been a planetarium director and has had a life-long love for teaching fellow amateur astronomers about the universe.Discovered 19 September 2001 by R. A. Tucker, Goodricke-Pigott
(67235) Fairbank
William Martin Fairbank (1917-1989), professor emeritus of physics at Stanford University, earned his Ph.D. from Yale in 1948. He taught at Amherst College and Duke University before joining the Stanford faculty in 1959. His research interests included superconductivity, gravity waves, individual quarks and monopoles.Discovered 5 March 2000 by S. Sposetti, Gnosca
(71885) Denning
British amateur astronomer William Frederick Denning (1848-1931) was renowned for his visual study of the heights and velocities of meteors and for his catalogues of meteor radiants. He also maintained an interest in Jupiter's red spot and discovered five comets, two of them of short period.Discovered 16 November 2000 by Spacewatch, Kitt Peak
(75970) Olcott
William Tyler Olcott (1873-1936) was an American lawyer, amateur astronomer and co-founder of the American Association of Variable Star Observers. He wrote a number of popular books on astronomy including Star Lore-Myths, Legends and Facts and A Field Book of the Skies.Discovered 7 February 2000 by CSS, Catalina
(78393) Dillon
William G. Dillon (b. 1957) is the founder of the Fort Bend Astronomy Club's Asteroid Team, which has discovered up to 100 minor planets per year. A tireless observer, he is the AAVSO's president for 2003-2005, and received its Director's Award in 1996. His wife Elizabeth's steadfast support has made his success possible.Discovered 8 August 2002 by A. Lowe, Palomar
(79117) Brydonejack
William Brydone Jack (1817–1886) was a pioneer of Canadian astronomy. He built British North America's first astronomical observatory in 1851. Jack practiced public outreach in astronomy. He determined Canada's first longitude readings, delivered the first engineering lecture and created the first engineering chair in Canada.Discovered 16 August 1988 by Shoemaker, C. S., Shoemaker, E. M., Palomar
(90317) Williamcutlip
William Cutlip (b. 1960) is the Launch Segment Manager for the OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission. He serves as the Senior Business Development manager for the Goddard Space Flight Center. He has also served as the Launch Manager for the Atlas-Titan II and SELV Services programs.Discovered 23 March 2003 by CSS, Catalina
(101713) Marston
William Moulton Marston (1893–1947) was an American psychologist, author, inventor, and creator of the comic book character Wonder Woman, who first appeared in All Star Comics number 8 in December 1941. Marston also invented the systolic blood pressure test, a component of the modern polygraph.Discovered 20 February 1999 by R. A. Tucker, Goodricke-Pigott
(110416) Cardille
William Robert “Chilly Billy” Cardille (1928-2016) was a television broadcast personality in Pittsburgh. Starting in 1957, he hosted many programs on WIIC-TV (later WPXI), including Studio Wrestling and a 20-year run on Chiller Theatre. Cardille also appeared in several movies, including Night of the Living Dead.Discovered 11 October 2001 by R. A. Tucker, Goodricke-Pigott
(128228) Williammarsh
William H. Marsh (1926–2004) was an American professor of speech, debate, and drama in secondary schools and university systems. He was dedicated to his students and taught them to communicate effectively in many venues. His students became engineers, scientists, lawyers, and thespians.Discovered 18 September 2003 by R. A. Tucker, Goodricke-Pigott
(129099) Spoelhof
William Spoelhof (b. 1909) served as president of Calvin College from 1951 to 1976. Among his achievements at this Christian liberal arts college, he fostered the establishment of an astronomy program. This included the construction of an observatory in 1970.Discovered 3 December 2004 by L. A. Molnar, Calvin-Rehoboth
(129138) Williamfrost
William A. Frost (b. 1976) is the Lockheed Martin system test engineering lead for the OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission. Prior to serving in this role, he supported the MAVEN mission to Mars, the GRAIL lunar mission, the GLM program and the TIROS program.Discovered 13 January 2005 by CSS, Catalina
(129962) Williamverts
William Verts (b. 1968) worked as a senior mechanical designer on the OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission OCAMS camera. He also helped design TEGA II on the Phoenix Mars Mission and Mars Polar Lander and GRS on the Odyssey Mars Mission.Discovered 1 October 1999 by CSS, Catalina
(130314) Williamodonnell
William O'Donnel (b. 1952) is a Mechanical Engineer on the Thermal Emission Spectrometer Instrument on the OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission.Discovered 11 March 2000 by CSS, Catalina
(134135) Steigerwald
William Steigerwald (b. 1967) worked on the OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission as a science writer. He has worked for over 19 years as a writer for a wide range of NASA missions in planetary science, astrobiology, astrophysics and heliophysics.Discovered 7 January 2005 by CSS, Catalina
(142752) Boroski
William Boroski (b. 1960) is an active participant in the American astronomical community and a contributor to the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, best known for his role as SDSS Project Manager during the period 1999 to 2008.Discovered 4 October 2002 by Sloan Digital Sky Survey, Apache Point
(144362) Swantner
William H. Swantner (b. 1943) obtained his doctorate from the James C. Wyant Collage of Optical Sciences University of Arizona in 1978. He was a valued adviser to the construction of the optical imaging system used for minor-planet imagery at Las Cruces Observatory.Discovered 26 February 2004 by D. S. Dixon, Las Cruces
(204786) Wehlau
William Henry Wehlau (1926-1995) was an American-born Canadian astronomer who pioneered the field of stellar surface mapping using observed rotational variability of surface abundances and magnetic field strength. He served on the Board of the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope from 1974 to 1985.Discovered 25 May 2006 by P. A. Wiegert, Mauna Kea
(211378) Williamwarneke
William Warneke (1988-2013) was one of the 19 elite Prescott's Granite Mountain Hotshot firefighters who lost their lives battling a blaze on a ridge in Yarnell, AZ. Crews such as the Hotshots are closely connected to astronomy through their brave efforts to protect forests and the observatories within them from fire threats.Discovered 5 October 2002 by Sloan Digital Sky Survey, Apache Point
(227427) Williamwren
William R. Wren (b. 1955) was Special Assistant to the Superintendent, McDonald Observatory, Texas. He worked with the oil and gas industry, local communities, the National Park Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and the Nature Conservancy to mitigate light pollution and establish the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve.Discovered 6 November 2005 by Mt. Lemmon Survey, Mount Lemmon
(228136) Billary
William Griffith (b. 1956) and Hillary U. Galkin (b. 1956), avid amateur astronomers from southern California, are supporters of the Starkenburg-Sternwarte in Heppenheim, Germany.Discovered 13 September 2009 by Busch, M., Kresken, R., ESA OGS
(229004) Josephhall
William Joseph Hall (b. 1963) is an American administrator in a lead role supporting the travel department of the Southwest Research Institute. With great efficiency and attention to detail, he has supported a myriad of trips for science team members for several NASA missions, including the New Horizons mission to Pluto and beyond.Discovered 20 November 2003 by M. W. Buie, Kitt Peak
(246333) Williamdane
William Dane (b. 1978) was part of a small team of students in Massachusetts, USA, that worked on developing successful best practices for hunting NEOs. He collaborated with other schools as part of a nationwide search program. Name proposed by team leader Hughes Pack, who participated in the IASC.Discovered 10 October 2007 by R. Holmes, Charleston
(246841) Williamirace
William Irace (b. 1941) is an engineer who worked on the Viking Mars orbiters, the InfraRed Astronomical Satellite, the W. M. Keck Ten MeterTelescopes and the Spitzer Space Telescope. He was the project manager for the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer.Discovered 24 February 2010 by WISE, WISE
(266921) Culhane
William Culhane (b. 1930) is a retired mechanic and grandfather of one of the discoverers.Discovered 14 February 2010 by WISE, WISE
(268115) Williamalbrecht
William B. Albrecht (1917-2009) was an active amateur astronomer who made contributions to the study of variable stars, lunar occultations, solar astronomy and aurorae. Bill designed and fabricated instrumentation for amateur and professional observatories.Discovered 7 October 2004 by Cooney Jr., W. R., Gross, J., Sonoita
(305344) Williamcolgrove
William Gladstone Colgrove (1872–1958) was a Canadian amateur astronomer, botanical taxonomist and skilled machinist who won the RASC Chant Medal in 1942 for designing and building models for use in astronomical teaching. He assisted Western University in acquiring the Dresden meteorite for research and exhibition after it fell in southern Ontario in 1939.Discovered 6 January 2008 by P. A. Wiegert, Mauna Kea
(329200) Billhicks
William Melvin Hicks (1961–1994) was an American stand-up comedian and satirist. His material, often controversial, covered a wide range of subjects including religion, politics, and philosophy. Hicks' dark and satirical humor supported his antiauthoritianism viewpoint.Discovered 27 December 2006 by Mt. Lemmon Survey, Mount Lemmon
(353745) Williamunruh
William Unruh (b. 1967) is the Physical Plant Manager and Safety Officer at the Institute for Astronomy at the University of Hawaiʻi, where his work includes support for Pan-STARRS. Born in Kansas, he now lives in Hawaiʻi and his interests are being in and experiencing the outdoors, wildlife and biodiversity.Discovered 11 September 2005 by Spacewatch, Kitt Peak
(486898) LaForge
William N. LaForge (b. 1950) was president of Delta State University in Mississippi, USA, from 2013 to 2022. He took a great interest in the science departments, especially astronomy, and helped the planetarium become a symbol of the university. Name suggested by students from Delta State University.Discovered 8 March 2013 by Pan-STARRS 1, Haleakala
(551878) Stoeger
William R. Stoeger (1943–2014) was an American Jesuit priest at the Vatican Observatory who developed ways to test different mathematical formalisms of cosmology by observation. He co-edited a notable series of academic conference proceedings on science and theology with colleagues at the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences in Berkeley.Discovered 29 February 2012 by R. P. Boyle K. Äernis, Mount Graham