Robert D. Stephens (born 1955) is an American amateur
astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist in the field of astronomy who focuses on a specific question or field outside the scope of Earth. Astronomers observe astronomical objects, such as stars, planets, natural satellite, moons, comets and galaxy, galax ...
and a prolific
photometrist of
minor planet
According to the International Astronomical Union (IAU), a minor planet is an astronomical object in direct orbit around the Sun that is exclusively classified as neither a planet nor a comet. Before 2006, the IAU officially used the term ''minor ...
s at the Center for Solar System Studies , Rancho Cucamonga in California, United States.
Career
By profession, Stephens is a
Certified Public Accountant
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is the title of qualified accountants in numerous countries in the English-speaking world. It is generally equivalent to the title of chartered accountant in other English-speaking countries. In the United Stat ...
in California since 1978, and has co-founded the accounting firm ''Fox & Stephens Inc.'' in 1988.
Member of the
American Astronomical Society
The American Astronomical Society (AAS, sometimes spoken as "double-A-S") is an American society of professional astronomers and other interested individuals, headquartered in Washington, DC. The primary objective of the AAS is to promote the adv ...
and former president of the Riverside Astronomical Society,
Stephens became active in studying minor planets in 1999. Since then, he has obtained and published hundreds of rotational ±
light curve
In astronomy, a light curve is a graph (discrete mathematics), graph of the Radiance, light intensity of a celestial object or region as a function of time, typically with the magnitude (astronomy), magnitude of light received on the ''y''-axis ...
s of asteroids from photometric observations taken at the CS3–Trojan Station of the
Center for Solar System Studies
This is a list of observatory codes (IAU codes or MPC codes) published by the Minor Planet Center
The Minor Planet Center (MPC) is the official body for observing and reporting on minor planets under the auspices of the International Astronomi ...
,
Landers, in the Southern California desert,
where he collaborates with astronomers Daniel Coley and
Brian D. Warner
Brian Dale Warner (born 1952) is an American Amateur astronomy, amateur astronomer and computer programmer. In 2006 he was awarded the inaugural Chambliss Amateur Achievement Award by the American Astronomical Society.
From the 1990s to 2011 W ...
. He is president of the astronomical research institution ''MoreData! Inc.'', as well as treasurer of the ''Society for Astronomical Sciences'' and the
American Association of Variable Star Observers
The American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) is an international nonprofit organization. Founded in 1911, the organization focuses on coordinating, analyzing, publishing, and archiving variable star observations made largely by ama ...
.
Awards and honors
* Stephens was the winner of the 2009-
Chambliss Amateur Achievement Award
The Chambliss Amateur Achievement Award is awarded by the American Astronomical Society for an achievement in astronomical research made by an amateur astronomer resident in North America. The prize is named after Carlson R. Chambliss of Kutztown U ...
and the 2012-
Clifford W. Holmes Award The Clifford W. Holmes Award is presented annually near Big Bear City, California, at the RTMC Astronomy Expo to an individual for a significant contribution to popularizing astronomy.
Established in 1978 by Richard Poremba as the Astronomy for A ...
.
* In 2013, he was awarded a ''Shoemaker NEO Grant'', together with astronomers
Albino Carbognani,
Robert Holmes,
Gary Hug and
Donald P. Pray.
* The main-belt asteroid
39890 Bobstephens, discovered by
Petr Pravec
Petr Pravec (born September 17, 1967) is a Czech astronomer and a discoverer of minor planets, born in Třinec, Czech Republic.
Pravec is a prolific discoverer of binary asteroids, expert in photometric observations and rotational lightcurves ...
in 1998, was named in his honor.
The official was published by the
Minor Planet Center
The Minor Planet Center (MPC) is the official body for observing and reporting on minor planets under the auspices of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Founded in 1947, it operates at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.
Funct ...
on July 24, 2002 ().
See also
*
American Association of Variable Star Observers
The American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) is an international nonprofit organization. Founded in 1911, the organization focuses on coordinating, analyzing, publishing, and archiving variable star observations made largely by ama ...
*
RTMC Astronomy Expo The RTMC Astronomy Expo was one of the major gatherings of amateur astronomers in the United States for five decades, from 1969 to 2019.
History
Founded by Clifford W. Holmes and the Riverside Astronomical Society, the RTMC Astronomy Expo began ...
References
External links
The Planetary Society – Robert Stephens
Center for Solar System Studies homepage
American Association of Variable Star Observers homepage
List of publications in the Astrophysics Data System
MoreData!, Inc. CAGE CODE 5U0E6, DUNS NUMBER 832907435
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephens, Robert D.
1955 births
20th-century American astronomers
21st-century American astronomers
Living people