Alan Hale (astronomer)
Alan Hale | |
|---|---|
Hale in 2005 | |
| Born | 1958 (age 66–67) Tachikawa, Japan |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | |
| Known for | Co-discovery of Comet Hale–Bopp |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | |
| Institutions | New Mexico Museum of Space History Earthrise Institute |
| Thesis | Orbital coplanarity in solar-type binary systems: implications for planetary system formation and detection (1992) |
Alan Hale (born 1958) is an American professional astronomer who co-discovered Comet Hale–Bopp independently of its other co-discoverer, Thomas Bopp, an amateur astronomer.
Hale specializes in the study of Sun-like stars and the search for extra-solar planetary systems, and has side interests in the fields of comets and near-Earth asteroids. He has been an active astronomer most of his life and currently serves as the president of the Earthrise Institute, which he founded, and which has as its mission the use of astronomy as a tool for breaking down international and intercultural barriers. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has named an asteroid in Hale's honor, 4151 Alanhale, in recognition of his numerous comet observations.