David D. Balam Explained

Minor planets discovered: 55
see

David D. Balam is a Canadian astronomer and a research associate with University of Victoria's Department of Physics and Astronomy, in Victoria, British Columbia. Specializing in the search for Near-Earth objects, Balam is one of the world's most prolific contributors to this research;^[1] only two astronomers have made more such discoveries than Balam. He is credited with the discovery or co-discovery of more than 600 asteroids, over a thousand extra-galactic supernovae,^[2] and novae in the galaxy M31. Balam is also co-credited for the 1997 discovery of Comet Zhu-Balam.^[3] ^[4]

Among celestial bodies discovered by Balam are the asteroid 150145 Uvic, which he named for the University of Victoria, and 197856 Tafelmusik, named for the Baroque orchestra in Toronto.^[5] Currently, Balam conducts an optical transient survey (OTS) using the 1.82-m Plaskett Telescope of the National Research Council of Canada.

The asteroid 3749 Balam is named in his honour, recognizing the fact that he developed most of the software for the university's astrometric program on minor planets and comets.^[6]

List of discovered minor planets

important; height: 540px;
	20 October 1987
	4 January 1995
	12 August 1993
	8 February 1994
	20 August 1995
	28 March 1995
	13 August 1997
	10 August 1997
	3 June 2000
	30 March 2000
	15 July 2000
	2 February 1996
	9 August 1997
	23 January 1996
	29 March 2004
	21 August 2004
	24 February 1996
	21 August 2004
	11 June 2007
	22 October 1998

important; height: 540px;
	23 October 2006
	5 September 2007
	25 August 2006
	11 June 2007
	23 August 2006
	11 June 2007
	16 March 2004
	30 September 2003
	14 September 2006
	9 September 2007
	14 September 2006
	14 September 2006
	13 December 2006
	20 January 2007
	11 June 2007
	13 December 2006
	12 December 2006
	12 June 2007
	3 June 2006
	13 January 2007

important; height: 432px;
	9 September 2007
	11 June 2007
	13 December 2006
	12 June 2007
	23 August 2006
	26 December 2006
	16 December 2003
	11 October 2007
	23 October 2006
	7 October 2007
	11 June 2007
	16 December 2003
	16 March 2004
	11 June 2007
	13 December 2006
	12 December 2006
Co-discovery made with: P. B. Stetson

Notes and References

News: B.C. telescope a key anti-asteroid sentry. Dickinson. Terence. May 10, 1998. Toronto Star.
Web site: t's a bird, it's a plane -- wait, no, it's UVic hurtling through the sky. June 1, 2007. canada.com/Victoria Times Colonist. 1 February 2010. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110604115852/http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=cfc22dca-2189-4f46-a624-5ad5e5784898&k=17971. 4 June 2011.
Web site: New comet named after astronomers. November 13, 1998. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 1 February 2010.
Web site: Sharp-eyed Balam co-discovers comet. McNeney. Mike. February 6, 1998. The Ring/University of Victoria. 1 February 2010.
Web site: Asteroid has Tafelmusik's name on it. April 17, 2009. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 1 February 2010.
May 31, 1988. Minor Planets and Comets. Minor Planet Circular. International Astronomical Union. 13. 105. 74. February 1, 2010.