Matthew J. Holman (born 1967) is a Smithsonian astrophysicist and lecturer at Harvard University. Holman studied at MIT, where he received his bachelor's degree in mathematics in 1989 and his PhD in planetary science in 1994. He was awarded the Newcomb Cleveland Prize in 1998.

From 25 January 2015 to 9 February 2021, he held the position of an interim director of IAU's Minor Planet Center (MPC), after former director Timothy B. Spahr had stepped down. Holman was followed by Matthew Payne as new director of the MPC.

He was a Salina Central High School (Kansas) classmate and fellow debate team member of Joe Miller, Alaskan Senate candidate. The main-belt asteroid 3666 Holman was named in his honour in 1999 ().

Discoveries

+ Minor planets discovered: 11 21 July 1999 5 August 2000 5 August 2000 27 March 2000 27 March 2000 5 August 2000 16 December 2000 17 December 2000 27 March 2000 5 August 2000 16 December 2000 Co-discovery made with: J. J. Kavelaars B. Gladman J.-M. Petit T. Grav

For the period between 1999 and 2000, Holman is credited by the MPC with the discovery and co-discovery of several trans-Neptunian objects such as and (see table) and has been an active observer of centaurs.

He was also part of a team that discovered numerous irregular moons: Discovered moons of Neptune (full list): Halimede – in 2002 with J.J. Kavelaars, T. Grav, W. Fraser and D. Milisavljevic Sao – in 2002 with J.J. Kavelaars, T. Grav, W. Fraser, D. Milisavljevic Laomedeia – in 2002, with J.J. Kavelaars, T. Grav, W. Fraser, D. Milisavljevic Neso – in 2002, with B. Gladman et al. Discovered moons of Uranus (full list): Prospero – in 1999, with J.J. Kavelaars, B. Gladman, J.-M. Petit, H. Scholl Setebos – in 1999, with J.J. Kavelaars, B. Gladman, J.-M. Petit, H. Scholl Stephano – in 1999, with B. Gladman, J.J. Kavelaars, J.-M. Petit, H. Scholl Trinculo – in 2001, with J.J. Kavelaars, D. Milisavljevic Francisco – in 2001, with J.J. Kavelaars, D. Milisavljevic, T. Grav Ferdinand – in 2001, with D. Milisavljevic, J.J. Kavelaars, T. Grav Discovered moons of Saturn (full list): Albiorix – in 2000, with T.B. Spahr

See also List of minor planet discoverers

References

External links Matthew J. Holman, homepage at Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian The Minor Planet Center Status Report Matthew Holman, 8 November 2015