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astronomy

Norman G. Thomas

Norman G. Thomas is a astronomy topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Norman G. Thomas rather than just read about it. In short: Norman Gene Thomas (May 1, 1930 – May 19, 2020) was an American astronomer and discoverer of minor planets. He worked at Lowell Observatory using the blink comparator alongside Robert Burnham Jr., author of the famous three-volume Celestial Handbook.

Key takeaways

  • Norman G. Thomas belongs to astronomy; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Norman G. Thomas to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Norman G. Thomas from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Norman Gene Thomas (May 1, 1930 – May 19, 2020) was an American astronomer and discoverer of minor planets. He worked at Lowell Observatory using the blink comparator alongside Robert Burnham Jr., author of the famous three-volume Celestial Handbook. He is credited by the Minor Planet Center with the discovery of 55 numbered minor planets during 1964–1989, including the Apollo asteroids 4544 Xanthus and 4581 Asclepius, as well as the Amor asteroid 3352 McAuliffe. The main-belt asteroid 2555 Thomas, discovered by Edward Bowell at Anderson Mesa Station in 1980, was named in his honor. Naming citation was published on 8 April 1982 (M.P.C. 6835).

List of discovered minor planets

References

External links Library of Congress Authorities – Thomas, N. G. (Norman Gene), 1930-, (n89615892)

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Norman G. Thomas

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Norman G. Thomas claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In astronomy, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Norman G. Thomas before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Norman G. Thomas ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Norman G. Thomas

In research
Norman G. Thomas appears in astronomy research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Norman G. Thomas in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Norman G. Thomas is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics 1930 births, 2020 deaths, 20th-century British astronomers, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Norman G. Thomas outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.
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How to study Norman G. Thomas in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Norman G. Thomas means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Norman G. Thomas out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Norman G. Thomas in simple terms?

Norman Gene Thomas (May 1, 1930 – May 19, 2020) was an American astronomer and discoverer of minor planets. He worked at Lowell Observatory using the blink comparator alongside Robert Burnham Jr., author of the famous three-volume Celestial Handbook.

Why does Norman G. Thomas matter?

Because it connects several astronomy ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Norman G. Thomas?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Norman G. Thomas.

Tags

  • 1930 births
  • 2020 deaths
  • 20th-century British astronomers
  • American astronomer stubs
  • Discoverers of asteroids
  • Discoveries by Norman G. Thomas

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