+ Minor planets discovered: 483 see

Robert H. McNaught (born in Scotland in 1956) is a Scottish-Australian astronomer at the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics of the Australian National University (ANU). He has collaborated with David J. Asher of the Armagh Observatory.

The inner main-belt asteroid 3173 McNaught, discovered by Edward Bowell at Anderson Mesa Station in 1981, was named after him by its discoverer, following a suggestion by David Seargent.

Work

McNaught is a prolific discoverer of asteroids and comets, described as "the world's greatest comet discoverer" and he participated in the Siding Spring Survey (SSS) using the ANU's Uppsala Southern Schmidt Telescope. He discovered the Great Comet C/2006 P1 on 7 August 2006, the brightest comet in several decades, which became easily visible to the naked eye for observers in the Southern Hemisphere. The SSS was the only active professional Near Earth Object survey in the Southern Hemisphere. The survey ended in 2013 after funding dried up.

McNaught previously worked on the Anglo-Australian Near-Earth Asteroid Survey from 1990 to 1996.

Other work

McNaught worked at the University of Aston's satellite-tracking camera originally outside Evesham in 1982, thereafter at Herstmonceux and more recently at Siding Spring. In his spare time he successfully conducts patrols for novae, identifies images of prenovae and unusual variable stars on survey plates, measures their positions, makes astrometric observations of comets and minor planets and photometric observations of comets and novae. He also carries out extensive observational and computational work on meteors, as well as on occultations by minor planets.

Funding issues In October 2011, partly due to changes in the exchange rate between the Australian and US dollars, Catalina Sky Survey of NASA had to end funding McNaught's southern survey, which used to cost $110,000 per year, ending the international cooperation in July 2012. The astronomer estimated that the survey needs $180,000 annually, plus a small one-time sum to fix the observatory dome. For several months the project was temporarily funded from the ANU, but in late 2012, the ANU advised that it could no longer support the program and that funds would not be available from January 2013.

Discoveries

List of cometary discoveries

In total, McNaught has discovered 82 comets.

Long-period

McNaught has discovered 44 long-period comets:

C/1987 U3 (a. k. a. 1987 XXXII, 1987b1) C/2005 E2 C/2005 L2 C/2005 L3 C/2005 S4 C/2006 B1 C/2006 E1 C/2006 K1 C/2006 K3 C/2006 L2 C/2006 P1 (Great Comet of 2007) C/2006 Q1 C/2007 K6 C/2007 M1 C/2007 P1 C/2007 T1 C/2007 Y2 C/2008 A1 C/2008 J4 C/2009 F2 C/2009 F4 C/2009 F5 C/2009 K5 C/2009 R1 C/2009 T1 C/2010 J2 C/2011 C1 C/2011 G1 C/2011 L2 C/2011 L3 C/2011 N2 C/2011 Q2 C/2011 R1 C/2012 C1 C/2012 H2 C/2012 K6 C/2012 T4 C/2012 Y3 C/2013 A1 C/2013 E1 C/2013 F3 C/2013 G2 C/2013 G7 C/2013 J3 C/2013 O3

Short period

McNaught has discovered 26 short-period comets:

191P/McNaught 220P/McNaught 254P/McNaught 260P/McNaught 278P/McNaught P/2004 R1 (McNaught) P/2005 J1 (McNaught) P/2005 L1 (McNaught) P/2005 Y2 (McNaught) P/2006 G1 (McNaught) P/2006 H1 (McNaught) P/2007 H1 (McNaught) P/2008 J3 (McNaught) P/2008 O2 (McNaught) P/2008 Y3 (McNaught) P/2009 Q5 (McNaught) P/2009 S2 (McNaught) P/2009 U4 (McNaught) P/2010 J5 (McNaught) P/2011 L1 (McNaught) P/2011 P1 (McNaught) P/2011 Q3 (McNaught) P/2012 O1 (McNaught) P/2012 O2 (McNaught) P/2012 O3 (McNaught) P/2013 J2 (McNaught)

Co-discoveries

McNaught is the co-discoverer of the following comets:

P/Catalina-McNaught (a.k.a. P/2008 S1, 2008 JK) P/McNaught-Hartley (a.k.a. P/1994 N2, 1994 XXXI, 1994n) Comet McNaught-Hartley (a.k.a. C/1999 T1) Comet McNaught-Tritton (a.k.a. C/1978 G2, 1978 XXVII) Comet McNaught-Watson (a.k.a. C/1999 S2)

Groups

Comets McNaught-Hughes C/1990 M1 (a.k.a. 1991 III, 1990g) 130P/McNaught-Hughes (a.k.a. 1991 IX, 1991y)

Comets McNaught-Russell C/1991 C3 (a.k.a. 1990 XIX, 1991g) C/1991 Q1 (a.k.a. 1992 XI, 1991v) C/1991 R1 (a.k.a. 1990 XXII, 1991w) C/1993 Y1 (a.k.a. 1994 XI, 1993v) 262P/McNaught-Russell (a.k.a. 1994 XXIV, 1994u)

List of discovered minor planets

As of 2016, Robert McNaught is credited by the Minor Planet Center with the discovery and co-discovery of 483 minor planets during 1975–2005.

3904 Honda 22 February 1988 4093 Bennett 4 November 1986 4128 UKSTU 28 January 1988 4129 Richelen 22 February 1988 4220 Flood 22 February 1988 4456 Mawson 27 July 1989 4499 Davidallen 4 January 1989 4504 Jenkinson 21 December 1989 4638 Estens 2 March 1989 4667 Robbiesh 4 November 1986 4678 Ninian 24 September 1990 4679 Sybil 9 October 1990 4699 Sootan 4 November 1986 4704 Sheena 28 January 1988 4710 Wade 4 January 1989 4713 Steel 26 August 1989 23 June 1990 4956 Noymer 12 November 1990 4974 Elford 14 June 1990 5007 Keay 20 October 1990 5061 McIntosh 22 February 1988 5066 Garradd 22 June 1990 5068 Cragg 9 October 1990 5133 Phillipadams 12 August 1990 5136 Baggaley 20 October 1990 20 October 1990 5277 Brisbane 22 February 1988 5329 Decaro 21 December 1989 5335 Damocles 18 February 1991 5378 Ellyett 9 April 1991 5380 Sprigg 7 May 1991 5382 McKay 8 May 1991 5441 Andymurray 8 May 1991 5470 Kurtlindstrom 28 January 1988 5475 Hanskennedy 26 August 1989 5558 Johnnapier 24 November 1989 26 March 1992 5625 Jamesferguson 7 January 1991 5627 Short 16 June 1991 20 September 1990 5680 Nasmyth 30 December 1989 5682 Beresford 9 October 1990 5691 Fredwatson 26 March 1992 5739 Robertburns 24 November 1989 9 October 1990 5747 Williamina 10 February 1991 5782 Akirafujiwara 7 January 1991 5786 Talos 3 September 1991 1 July 1992 5845 Davidbrewster 19 August 1988 5883 Josephblack 6 November 1993 5914 Kathywhaler 20 November 1990 5961 Watt 30 December 1989 6012 Williammurdoch 22 September 1990 6019 Telford 3 September 1991 1 October 1991 4 March 1989 30 January 1993 6130 Hutton 24 September 1989 6194 Denali 12 October 1990 6316 Méndez 9 October 1990 10 February 1991 6411 Tamaga 8 October 1993 29 October 1991 25 April 1992 6461 Adam 4 November 1993 6523 Clube 1 October 1991 6564 Asher 25 January 1992 6708 Bobbievaile 4 January 1989 6870 Pauldavies 28 July 1992 6906 Johnmills 19 November 1990 6907 Harryford 19 November 1990 6916 Lewispearce 27 July 1992 4 January 1989 7096 Napier 3 November 1992 7120 Davidgavine 4 January 1989 7170 Livesey 30 June 1987 7177 Melvyntaylor 9 October 1990 7247 Robertstirling 12 October 1991 7345 Happer 28 July 1992 7 November 1993 1 October 1992 9 August 1994 20 November 1990 24 March 1992 7604 Kridsadaporn 31 August 1995 7660 Alexanderwilson 5 November 1993 20 September 1990 13 February 1991 3 July 1994 20 October 1993 21 August 1977 8028 Joeengle 30 August 1991 8030 Williamknight 29 September 1991 20 April 1993 8113 Matsue 21 April 1996 8115 Sakabe 24 April 1996 29 November 1991 8218 Hosty 8 May 1996 10 May 1996 8283 Edinburgh 30 September 1991 8368 Lamont 20 February 1991 8486 Asherschel 26 August 1989 8515 Corvan 4 September 1991 20 May 1990 20 May 1990 8842 Bennetmcinnes 20 May 1990 8899 Hughmiller 22 September 1995 30 August 1991 9349 Lucas 30 September 1991 9391 Slee 14 August 1994 9583 Clerke 28 April 1990 9594 Garstang 4 September 1991 9714 Piazzismyth 1 June 1975 9843 Braidwood 4 January 1989 9850 Ralphcopeland 9 October 1990 9853 l'Épée 7 January 1991 9855 Thomasdick 7 February 1991 9857 Hecamede 10 March 1991 9873 Freundlich 9 April 1992 9881 Sampson 25 September 1994 9899 Greaves 12 March 1996 9984 Gregbryant 18 April 1996 9985 Akiko 12 May 1996 10058 Ikwilliamson 25 February 1988 10098 Jaymiematthews 30 September 1991 10188 Yasuoyoneda 14 May 1996 1 October 1991 21 July 1989 12 October 1990 10736 Marybrück 22 February 1988 10737 Brück 25 February 1988 10773 Jamespaton 7 January 1991 10841 Ericforbes 12 August 1994 13 August 1988 4 January 1989 20 November 1990 30 September 1991 17 April 1994 31 May 1995 7 January 1991 18 March 1991 2 September 1991 30 December 1989 9 October 1990 12 October 1991 12378 Johnston 15 August 1994 12446 Juliabryant 15 August 1996 12 October 1990 1 October 1991 12819 Susumutakahasi 12 May 1996 25 February 1988 10 August 1988 30 December 1989 10 March 1991 15 June 1993 4 November 1993 13176 Kobedaitenken 21 April 1996 4 January 1989 4 January 1989 4 January 1989 20 October 1990 18 March 1991 29 September 1991 30 September 1991 2 October 1991 13551 Gadsden 26 March 1992 13 August 1988 9 October 1990 13957 NARIT 7 January 1991 2 September 1991 21 September 1989 5 September 1991 14420 Massey 30 September 1991 30 September 1991 21 April 1993 21 September 1993 7 January 1991 4 November 1986 28 January 1988 25 February 1988 7 January 1991 1 October 1991 12 October 1991 20 October 1993 7 November 1993 15368 Katsuji 14 May 1996 9 October 1990 9 October 1990 28 December 1995 2 March 1989 30 December 1989 27 April 1990 17 September 1990 9 October 1990 20 October 1990 19 November 1990 23 October 1993 22 February 1988 4 January 1989 27 April 1990 5 September 1991 30 September 1991 17503 Celestechild 26 March 1992 17555 Kenkennedy 4 November 1993 17640 Mount Stromlo 15 August 1996 18376 Quirk 30 September 1991 18377 Vetter 28 September 1991 19 August 1992 18412 Kruszelnicki 13 June 1993 18413 Adamspencer 13 June 1993 9 May 1996 15 August 1996 14 October 1996 30 December 1989 30 December 1989 20 May 1990 18 March 1991 30 September 1991 21 June 1995 20 May 1990 20002 Tillysmith 10 March 1991 20015 Liguori 30 September 1991 20043 Ellenmacarthur 2 March 1993 12 June 1994 22 September 1995 3 August 1999 11 November 1999 28 January 1988 8 May 1991 21073 Darksky 4 September 1991 26 July 1992 13 June 1993 13 June 1993 18 June 1993 14 August 1994 11 August 1994 21262 Kanba 24 April 1996 30 September 1991 1 October 1991 18 June 1993 28 July 2000 28 January 1988 19 August 1988 20 October 1990 10 March 1991 30 September 1991 28 March 1996 28 January 1988 27 July 1989 24680 Alleven 30 December 1989 20 May 1990 9 October 1990 30 September 1991 30 September 1991 1 October 1991 1 October 1991 6 December 1994 4 January 1989 1 October 1991 3 August 1994 24 October 1994 20 December 1995 19 August 1990 9 October 1990 8 November 1990 2 September 1991 1 October 1991 1 October 1991 27 July 1992 28 August 1994 3 September 1999 22 February 1988 29 September 1991 4 January 1989 30 December 1989 9 October 1990 20 October 1993 29 January 1995 15 March 1996 11 July 1996 1 July 2000 20 September 1990 9 November 1991 4 September 1992 13 June 1993 20 October 1993 9 August 1994 6 November 1993 19 March 1994 21 March 1994 27 April 1990 19 August 1992 2 September 1992 15 June 1993 12 June 1994 29 January 1995 29 August 2000 30 September 1991 1 October 1991 11 September 1999 6 October 1999 15 October 1999 28 January 1988 7 January 1991 10 September 1994 19 August 1988 46568 Stevenlee 30 September 1991 24 February 1993 18 April 1993 18 April 1996 21 November 1989 30 December 1989 3 September 1991 30 September 1991 13 June 1993 20 October 1993 21 October 1993 7 February 1995 7 February 2000 17 September 1990 12 February 1991 9 November 1991 2 September 1992 16 August 1994 26 August 1994 24 February 1995 30 December 1989 28 July 1992 6 August 2000 9 October 1990 20 October 1990 1 October 1991 1 April 1994 2 June 1994 11 September 1994 3 October 1994 26 January 1996 3 August 1999 6 August 2000 6 August 2000 29 August 2000 22 February 1988 20 February 1991 1 July 1992 31 January 1993 14 June 1993 20 October 1993 6 March 2002 28 July 1992