Patrick Wiggins (astronomer)
Patrick Wiggins (born 1949) is an American amateur astronomer, and a discoverer of minor planets as well as supernovae. Wiggins worked as an educator at the Old Hansen Planetarium in Salt Lake City, Utah for 26 years before retirement. As of 2021[update] he works for the University of Utah Department of Physics and Astronomy doing science outreach in the public schools.[1][2]
Awards and honors
[edit]- In 2014, Wiggins received the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest honor NASA awards to a non employee.[3][4]
- Asteroid 4099 Wiggins, discovered by Henri Debehogne at La Silla Observatory in 1988, was named in his honor. The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 6 January 2007 (M.P.C. 58593).[1][5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "4099 Wiggins". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
- ^ "Solar System Ambassadors – Patrick Wiggins". NASA Solar System Exploration. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
- ^ "Meet a Citizen Scientist: Patrick Wiggins". NASA Solar System Exploration. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
- ^ "NASA honors Utahn for bringing the heavens to Earth". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
- ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
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