Pamela M. Kilmartin

New Zealand astronomer

Pamela M. Kilmartin is a New Zealand astronomer and a co-discoverer of minor planets and comets.^[2]

She is credited by the Minor Planet Center with the discovery of 41 asteroids, all in collaboration with her husband, the astronomer Alan C. Gilmore.^[1] Both astronomers are also active comet-hunters. She is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand (RASNZ) and co-director of its "Comets and Minor Planets" section.^[2][3] Kilmartin is one of eleven voting members of the International Astronomical Union's working group on Small Bodies Nomenclature, which is responsible for naming asteroids.^[4]

The minor planet 3907 Kilmartin, discovered by Max Wolf in 1904, was named in her honour.^[2] Naming citation was published on 21 April 1989 (M.P.C. 14482).^[5] In 1983, the Eunomia asteroid 2537 Gilmore was already named after both, Alan and Pamela Gilmore.^[6]

In May 2019, Kilmartin and her husband were honoured by New Zealand Post with a stamp in its New Zealand Space Pioneers series.^[7]

List of discovered minor planets

References

1. "Minor Planet Discoverers (by number)". Minor Planet Center. 23 May 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
2. Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(3907) Kilmartin". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (3907) Kilmartin. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 332. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_3896. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
3. "Abstracts". Southern Stars. 42 (3): 5. September 2003. Archived from the original on 14 January 2015.
4. "WG Small Bodies Nomenclature (WGSBN)". International Astronomical Union. Archived from the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
5. "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
6. Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(2537) Gilmore". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (2537) Gilmore. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 207. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_2538. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
7. "New Zealand Post". New Zealand Space Pioneers. Retrieved 3 June 2019.