Martin Connors

Martin Gerard Connors is a Canadian astronomer, space physicist, author and professor.

Career

Connors received a PhD in Physics from the University of Alberta in 1998. He is a Professor at Athabasca University. He tutors and develops courses in Mathematics, Physics, and Astronomy. He was part of the team credited with the discovery of the first Earth [trojan asteroid], an asteroid that orbits the Sun on a similar orbital path as that of Earth. The 300-meter-diameter asteroid was designated. The asteroid was discovered in October 2010 by the NEOWISE team of astronomers using NASA's Wide-field Infrared [Survey Explorer]. Connors himself is credited with the near-Earth and Apollo asteroid, which he co-discovered together with astronomer Christian Veillet at the Mauna Kea Observatories in August 2000. He was co-discoverer of the orbital properties of the "retrograde Trojan" 514107 Kaʻepaokaʻāwela.
Connors' first book "Invisible Solar System" was published by Taylor and Francis/CRC Press in 2024.

The asteroid 13700 Connors, discovered by the Spacewatch survey in 1998, was named in his honor. He held a Canada Research Chair at Athabasca University and has received that organization's teaching and research awards.