23 April 2004

Australian amateur astronomer finds 18th comet

Australia's news.com.au reported on 18 April 2004 that 76-year old amateur astronomer Bill Bradfield has discovered his 18th comet. Bradfield's remarkable achievement ended a dry spell of nine years and 900 hours at his telescope without finding a new comet.

Today many serious amateur astronomers use automated telescopes equipped with expensive video cameras to do comet hunting. Bradfield's discovery was made the old fashioned way at the eyepiece of his homemade $300 Newtonian telescope with a counterbalance made from bricks.

Bradfield made his discovery on 24 March 2004 from a dark roadside 6 km from his home in Yankalilla on the Fleurieu Peninsula. He spotted the comet after only a few minutes. He confirmed the discovery the next night. The new comet now bears the name C/2004 F4 (Bradfield).

Bradfield is a former rocket propulsion scientist. According to the story about him at news.com.au, his new discovery has earned him a cash prize under the Edgar Wilson Award for amateur comet hunters. In 1989 he was awarded the Order of Australia for his astronomical achievements.

The Citizen Scientist commends amateur astronomer Bill Bradfield for his amazing record of comet discoveries and news.com.au for its excellent reporting about Bradfield's latest find. The full text of the article is available at http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,9311907^2682,00.html

Forrest M. Mims III