Thomas Bopp
Thomas Bopp | |
---|---|
amateur astronomer | |
Known for | Co-discovery of comet Hale–Bopp with Alan Hale |
Thomas Joel Bopp (October 15, 1949 – January 5, 2018) was an American
Early life and education
Bopp was born October 15, 1949, in
Bopp attended
Discovery of comet Hale–Bopp
In 1980 Bopp moved to
Bopp later acknowledged the chance discovery,
I never seriously thought I would find anything like that. The chances of me discovering a bright comet, something that occurs once every 20 years or so, were astronomically small.[3]
The following morning at 8:25 am the office of Brian Marsden, director of the Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams, called him back to confirm the sighting was indeed a comet.[3] The comet was given the formal name Comet 1995 O1, and three days later its full title C/1995 O1 (Hale–Bopp),[11][15] designating the first comet found during the second half-month of July 1995.[16] Hale's name precedes Bopp's because his was the first report to arrive.[17] It is uncertain who was the first to discover it, as they both spotted it at around the same time.[14] The following day Hale phoned Bopp to introduce himself with the words, "I think that we have something in common." When they met at a conference two months later, Bopp said to the press that he was glad that Hale "turned out to be a nice guy."[9]
After the discovery
After the discovery, Bopp was in demand on television and radio, and was invited to speak at conferences.
In 1997, as comet Hale–Bopp reached its brightest point, Bopp's brother and sister-in-law were killed in a car accident after photographing the comet. "This has been the best week of my life. And the worst," Bopp told a National Geographic reporter.[26]
Bopp and his father Frank have had an asteroid named after them, (7086) Bopp, discovered October 5, 1991, by Carolyn and Gene Shoemaker.[27][28] In 1997, the Shoemakers, both famous for co-discovering comet Shoemaker–Levy 9, were involved in a car crash. Gene died in the crash and his ashes were sent to the Moon along with an image of Comet Hale-Bopp, "the last comet that the Shoemakers observed together."[29]
In 1997, when Bopp pointed out the comet would soon disappear from view and would not be visible for another 2380 years, he said he would always continue looking up at the stars.
I'll never give up looking at the skies. There's so many beautiful things there. And I love to share that with people.[20]
He continued to volunteer at observatories near Phoenix, Arizona, towards the end of his life, speaking about Hale–Bopp.[10] He died of liver failure on January 5, 2018, at the age of 68.[10]
References
- ISBN 81-7478-697-X.
- ^ a b c d Newcott, William. "The Age of Comets". National Geographic. Archived from the original on January 11, 2010. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Comet Hale-Bopp Puts on a Show". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e "Dr. Thomas Bopp". Espeakers. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Local notable people". The public library of Youngstown & Mahoning County. FDLP. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
- ^ a b Anderson, Scott R. "Introduction : Comet Hale-Bopp". Open Course. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
- ^ "Chaney High School class of 1967". Old Friends. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
- ^ "Physics and astronomy". Youngstown State University. Archived from the original on December 22, 2016. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f Carlin, John (April 5, 1997). "Starry, starry knights". Independent. Archived from the original on May 7, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
- ^ a b c d e Smith, Harrison. "Thomas Bopp, whose name was memorialized in a comet, dies at 68". Washington Post. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
- ^ a b c Friedl, Blaine P. "How Hale and Bopp found their comet". Washington Post. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
- ^ a b Hale, Alan. "The Discovery of Comet Hale-Bopp". jpl.nasa.gov. NASA. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
- ^ Ortega, Tony. "A Cosmic Blunder". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
- ^ a b Levy, David H. "Riding on the comet's tail". Sky & Telescope. Archived from the original on December 22, 2016. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
- ^ Hale, A.; Bopp, T.; Stevens, J. (July 23, 1995). "IAU Circular No. 6187". IAU. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
- ^ IAU. "PRESS INFORMATION SHEET: Comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp)". Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
- ISBN 0801880262. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
- ^ "Person of the week". ABC News. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
- ^ "PERSON OF THE WEEK (HALE AND BOPP) #172122". Television News archive. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
- ^ a b c d Couric, Katie. "Thomas Bopp on Hale-Bopp". NBC Today Show. NBC Universal. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
- ^ Melville, Iain; Howes, Nick. "The legend of SpaceFest V continues". Under British Skies. Astronomy FM. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
- ^ Hale, Alan (January 3, 2013). "Comet Hale-Bopp Co-Discoverer Observes Total Solar Eclipse Down Under". Online Learning Tips. American Public University. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
- ^ Romo, Rene. "Scientists Reach Out to Comet". Albuquerque Journal. Journal Southern Bureau. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
- ^ "YSU in 1998". Youngstown State University Archives. Archived from the original on July 6, 2010. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
- ^ "1.1 Collaborative Projects: Campus and the Community". Youngstown State University. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
- ^ "The Age of Comets". National Geographic Society. December 2, 2009. Archived from the original on January 8, 2018. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
- ^ "7086 Bopp (1991 TA1)". JPL Small-Body Database Browser. NASA. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
- ISBN 978-3642297182. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
- ^ "Eugene Shoemaker Ashes Carried on Lunar Prospector". www2.jpl.nasa.gov. News Services, University of Arizona.