James V. Scotti: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|American astronomer (born 1960)}} |
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{{BLP sources|date=February 2020}} |
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⚫ | '''James Vernon Scotti''' (born 1960) is an |
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{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2020}} |
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{{infobox scientist |
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|birth_date={{birth year and age|1960}} |
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|birth_place=[[Bandon, Oregon]], U.S. |
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|education=[[Edmonds Woodway High School]]<br>[[University of Arizona]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BSc]]) |
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|occupation=Astronomer |
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⚫ | '''James Vernon Scotti''' (born 1960) is an American [[astronomer]]. He was born in [[Bandon, Oregon]], and graduated from [[Edmonds Woodway High School]] in [[Edmonds, Washington]] in 1978. He received his [[B.Sc.]] in [[Astronomy]] from the [[University of Arizona]] in [[Tucson, Arizona|Tucson]] in 1983. Ever since that time, he has worked on the [[Spacewatch]] project, which is one of a number of projects that look for [[near-Earth asteroid]]s (NEAs). He wrote the first automatic [[asteroid]] detection software for the project in 1984.<ref name="MPC-object" /> |
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==Discoveries== |
==Discoveries== |
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⚫ | He has discovered numerous |
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Scotti is the discoverer (on February 15, 1997) of [[10199 Chariklo]], an asteroid with two rings. This is the only known ringed asteroid and the smallest object yet discovered with a ring system. |
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⚫ | He has also recovered more than |
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⚫ | He has discovered numerous [[near-Earth asteroid]]s, including [[(496816) 1989 UP]] and {{mpl|(35396) 1997 XF|11}} (uncredited), which briefly created a stir in the news media when a preliminary orbit calculation indicated the possibility of [[Earth]] impact in 2028; further observations led to a more accurate orbit, which disproved the impact. In 1991, he discovered [[1991 VG]], a [[Near-Earth object]] with some unusual characteristics. In 2013, he discovered {{mpl|2013 BS|45}}, another NEO that moves in a low [[Orbital eccentricity|eccentricity]] and low [[Orbital inclination|inclination]] orbit. |
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==1991 VG== |
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On November 6, 1991, Scotti discovered an object now known as [[1991 VG]].<ref>[http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Jul-1996/0149.html satobs.org: James Scotti, ''Re: What is 1991 VG?'']</ref> The object's orbit was found to be very similar to Earth's orbit<ref>[http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/risk/1991vg.html jpl.nasa.gov, ''1991 VG Earth Impact Risk Summary'']</ref> and it was found that it would make a close approach to Earth just a month after discovery. Given such an Earth-like orbit, the dynamical lifetime of such an object is relatively short with the object quickly either impacting Earth or being perturbed by Earth onto a different orbit. The similarity of its orbit with Earth is also very difficult to explain from natural sources, with ejecta from a recent Lunar impact or non-gravitational perturbations such as the [[Yarkovsky effect]] having been suggested. |
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⚫ | He has also recovered more than 75 [[comet]]s starting in 1985 (since comets are subject to non-gravitational forces due to outgassing and solar wind, it is often a challenge to predict their exact position and rediscover them each time they make a new [[perihelion]] approach). He confirmed the discovery of the well known [[Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9]], which impacted [[Jupiter]] in July 1994. He has also discovered the [[List of periodic comets|periodic comets]] [[202P/Scotti]], [[244P/Scotti]], [[377P/Scotti]], [[P/2010 C1]] (Scotti), [[P/2010 H4]] (Scotti), [[P/2010 H5]] (Scotti), [[P/2011 A2]] (Scotti), [[P/2013 A2]] (Scotti), and [[P/2015 Q1]] (Scotti); the later six are not yet numbered as they have only been seen at one perihelion passage. He has also discovered [[List of non-periodic comets|non-periodic comets]] [[C/2010 E5]] (Scotti) and [[C/2010 F3]] (Scotti). |
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The uncertainty of the object's origin, combined with rapid variation in the object's brightness in images obtained during its close passage with Earth in early December 1991, led some to speculate that 1991 VG might be artificial in origin,<ref>{{cite journal |last=Steel |first=D. |year=1995 |title=SETA and 1991 VG |journal=[[The Observatory (journal)|The Observatory]] |volume=115 |pages=78–83 |bibcode=1995Obs...115...78S |doi= }}</ref> having possibly been launched during the space age from Earth, though the object could not be definitively identified as a known terrestrial artifact. At present, the question of its origin remains unknown, though critics{{who?}} suggest the artificial origin seems to not be well supported. |
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Scotti's research interests include the origin of comets, the dynamical evolution of comets and asteroids, the near-Earth asteroids, and the outer Solar System. |
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1991 VG has absolute magnitude H=28.5 which would correspond to an asteroid between about 6 and 12 meters diameter and it is therefore far too faint for further study, apart from during close approaches to Earth. |
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Scotti is also an avid space enthusiast and is interested in the history of space exploration and particularly of the [[Apollo Program]]. He has contributed to the ''Apollo Lunar Surface Journal'', which details the Apollo lunar explorations. He is also a space artist and photographer. |
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== Awards and honors== |
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Asteroid [[3594 Scotti]], discovered by [[Edward L. G. Bowell|Edward Bowell]] at [[Anderson Mesa Station]] in 1983, was named in his honor.<ref name="MPC-object" /> The official {{MoMP|3594|naming citation}} was published by the [[Minor Planet Center]] on September 7, 1987 ({{small|[[Minor Planet Circulars|M.P.C.]] 12211}}).<ref name="MPC-Circulars-Archive" /> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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*[[Lunar and Planetary Laboratory]] |
* [[Lunar and Planetary Laboratory]] |
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*[[Near-Earth object]] |
* [[Near-Earth object]] |
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*[[J002E3]] |
* [[J002E3]] |
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*[[2000 SG344]] |
* [[2000 SG344]] |
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==References== |
== References == |
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{{reflist|30em|refs= |
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<references/> |
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<ref name="MPC-object">{{cite web |
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|title = 3594 Scotti (1983 CN) |
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|work = Minor Planet Center |
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|url = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/db_search/show_object?object_id=3594 |
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|accessdate = 3 February 2020}}</ref> |
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<ref name="MPC-Circulars-Archive">{{cite web |
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|title = MPC/MPO/MPS Archive |
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|work = Minor Planet Center |
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|url = https://www.minorplanetcenter.net/iau/ECS/MPCArchive/MPCArchive_TBL.html |
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|accessdate = 3 February 2020}}</ref> |
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}} <!-- end of reflist --> |
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{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. --> |
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| NAME = Scotti, James |
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| SHORT DESCRIPTION = |
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| DATE OF BIRTH = 1960 |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Scotti, James}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Scotti, James}} |
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[[Category:1960 births]] |
[[Category:1960 births]] |
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[[Category:Living people]] |
[[Category:Living people]] |
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[[Category:20th-century astronomers]] |
[[Category:20th-century American astronomers]] |
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[[Category:21st-century astronomers]] |
[[Category:21st-century American astronomers]] |
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[[Category:University of Arizona alumni]] |
[[Category:University of Arizona alumni]] |
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[[Category:American |
[[Category:American planetary scientists]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Discoverers of comets]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Discoverers of asteroids]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Discoveries by James V. Scotti|*]] |
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[[Category:People from Edmonds, Washington]] |
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[[Category:People from Bandon, Oregon]] |
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[[Category:21st-century American scientists]] |
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[[it:James Vernon Scotti]] |
Latest revision as of 03:22, 2 June 2024
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James V. Scotti | |
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Born | James Vernon Scotti 1960 (age 63–64) Bandon, Oregon, U.S. |
Education | Edmonds Woodway High School University of Arizona (BSc) |
Occupation | Astronomer |
James Vernon Scotti (born 1960) is an American astronomer. He was born in Bandon, Oregon, and graduated from Edmonds Woodway High School in Edmonds, Washington in 1978. He received his B.Sc. in Astronomy from the University of Arizona in Tucson in 1983. Ever since that time, he has worked on the Spacewatch project, which is one of a number of projects that look for near-Earth asteroids (NEAs). He wrote the first automatic asteroid detection software for the project in 1984.[1]
Discoveries
[edit]Scotti is the discoverer (on February 15, 1997) of 10199 Chariklo, an asteroid with two rings. This is the only known ringed asteroid and the smallest object yet discovered with a ring system.
He has discovered numerous near-Earth asteroids, including (496816) 1989 UP and (35396) 1997 XF11 (uncredited), which briefly created a stir in the news media when a preliminary orbit calculation indicated the possibility of Earth impact in 2028; further observations led to a more accurate orbit, which disproved the impact. In 1991, he discovered 1991 VG, a Near-Earth object with some unusual characteristics. In 2013, he discovered 2013 BS45, another NEO that moves in a low eccentricity and low inclination orbit.
He has also recovered more than 75 comets starting in 1985 (since comets are subject to non-gravitational forces due to outgassing and solar wind, it is often a challenge to predict their exact position and rediscover them each time they make a new perihelion approach). He confirmed the discovery of the well known Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, which impacted Jupiter in July 1994. He has also discovered the periodic comets 202P/Scotti, 244P/Scotti, 377P/Scotti, P/2010 C1 (Scotti), P/2010 H4 (Scotti), P/2010 H5 (Scotti), P/2011 A2 (Scotti), P/2013 A2 (Scotti), and P/2015 Q1 (Scotti); the later six are not yet numbered as they have only been seen at one perihelion passage. He has also discovered non-periodic comets C/2010 E5 (Scotti) and C/2010 F3 (Scotti).
Scotti's research interests include the origin of comets, the dynamical evolution of comets and asteroids, the near-Earth asteroids, and the outer Solar System.
Scotti is also an avid space enthusiast and is interested in the history of space exploration and particularly of the Apollo Program. He has contributed to the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal, which details the Apollo lunar explorations. He is also a space artist and photographer.
Awards and honors
[edit]Asteroid 3594 Scotti, discovered by Edward Bowell at Anderson Mesa Station in 1983, was named in his honor.[1] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on September 7, 1987 (M.P.C. 12211).[2]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "3594 Scotti (1983 CN)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
- ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
External links
[edit]- 1960 births
- Living people
- 20th-century American astronomers
- 21st-century American astronomers
- University of Arizona alumni
- American planetary scientists
- Discoverers of comets
- Discoverers of asteroids
- Discoveries by James V. Scotti
- People from Edmonds, Washington
- People from Bandon, Oregon
- 21st-century American scientists