Duncan Steel: Difference between revisions

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m Dating maintenance tags: {{Unreliable source inline}}
add a couple of refs, ce based on them and those in the page, rm some unreferenced content – Wikipedia is built on independent reliable sources (NB it really should be possible to cite the details of his education, but I've found no source for them)
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{{Infobox scientist
{{Infobox scientist
| name = Duncan I. Steel
| name = Duncan I. Steel
| honorific_suffix = [[Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society|FRAS]]
| honorific_suffix =
| native_name =
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'''Duncan I. Steel''' is a British [[space scientist]].{{r|herald}} He has [[discoverer of minor planets|discovered]] several [[minor planet]]s and has written four [[popular science]] books. He is a member of the [[International Astronomical Union]], which lists him as working at the [[Xerra Earth Observation Institute]] in [[Nelson, New Zealand|Nelson]] in New Zealand.{{r|iau}} He was formerly on the staff of the [[University of Salford]].{{r|scopus}}
'''Duncan I. Steel''' [[Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society|FRAS]] is a British scientist born in [[Midsomer Norton]], [[Somerset, England|Somerset]]. Currently he lives in [[Wellington]], [[New Zealand]], but holds visiting positions as a professor of [[astrobiology]] at the [[University of Buckingham]] in England; as a space scientist at [[NASA-Ames Research Center]] in California; and as an astronomer at [[Armagh Observatory]] in [[Northern Ireland]]. Duncan is a [[space science]] authority who has worked with [[NASA]] to assess the threat of [[comet]] and [[asteroid]] collisions and investigate technologies to avert such impacts. He is also the author of four popular-level science books on space, and regularly writes for ''[[The Guardian]]'' and various other newspapers and magazines. He is a [[discoverer of minor planets]] including the main-belt asteroid [[9767 Midsomer Norton]].


Steel discovered twelve numbered minor planets between 1990 and 1994.<ref name="MPC-Discoverers" /> The asteroid [[4713 Steel]], discovered by [[Robert McNaught]] in 1989, is named after him.{{r|springer|p=619}} According to [[Scopus]], he has an [[h-index|''h''-index]] of 13.{{r|scopus}}
== Biography ==


⚫
In August 2022 Steel pleaded guilty to [[burglary]] and breaching the New Zealand [[Harmful Digital Communications Act]]. He was sentenced to 12 months' [[house arrest]] and ordered to pay $3000 in reparation for emotional harm.{{r|herald|istuff}}
Duncan attended [[Norton Hill School]] (formerly Midsomer Norton Grammar School) from 1966 to 1973.


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⚫
== Books ==
Duncan attended the [[University of London]], studying as an undergraduate at [[Queen Elizabeth College]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BSc]] in Physics and Astrophysics, 1977) and also [[University College London|University College]], and as a graduate student in [[astrophysics]] at [[Queen Mary College]] (1977–78) and then at the [[Imperial College of Science and Technology]], where he took an [[Master of Science|MSc]] and [[Diploma of Imperial College|DIC]] in [[Applied Optics]] (1978–79). From September 1979 to January 1982 he worked at the [[Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics]] of the [[University of Colorado at Boulder]] on NASA's [[Pioneer Venus Orbiter]] spacecraft. For the following three years he was at the [[University of Canterbury]] in New Zealand, building a radar for meteor studies, being awarded a [[PhD]] degree in 1985. Between 1985 and 1996 he was associated with the [[University of Adelaide]], South Australia, undertaking research in [[Radar meteorology|radar meteors]], and asteroid and comet dynamics. In 1987–88 he was a [[European Space Agency]] Research Fellow at [[Lund Observatory|Lunds Observatoriet]], Sweden. From 1990 to 1995 he also worked at the [[Anglo-Australian Observatory]] in [[Coonabarabran]], [[New South Wales]], where he established and directed the first southern hemisphere program for the discovery and tracking of near-Earth asteroids. From 1988 to 1999 he additionally ran his own companies, amongst them Spaceguard Australia Pty Ltd. He was associate professor of [[Space Technology]] at the Joule Physics Laboratory, [[University of Salford]] in 1999–2003. From 2004 to 2012 he worked in [[Canberra]] for Ball Aerospace Australia and QinetiQ Pty Ltd, providing expert advice on technical matters to the [[Australian Department of Defence]].

He has been involved in investigations on small bodies in the Solar System using optical telescopes, meteor radar systems, and theoretical techniques to investigate their dynamical evolution. Amongst his scientific achievements have been the identification of the first asteroid spinning so fast that it must be a [[monolith]], the first identification of [[interstellar dust]] entering the atmosphere, and an influx of comet-derived meteoroids ablating high in the atmosphere that appear to be made of tarry organics. He is also interested in the astronomy and [[history of calendars]], and the life of [[Charles Babbage]] among many other things.

He named the asteroids [[5263 Arrius]] and [[6828 Elbsteel]] after his sons Harrison Callum Bertram Steel (b. 1992) and Elliot Lewis Barnaby Steel (b. 1995). Harry's asteroid couldn't be called Harrison because there was already one of those (George Harrison), and 'Arrius' was the title of a poem by [[Catullus]] that Duncan had to translate in Latin class at MNGS (about a Roman who dropped his aitches); whilst Elliot's asteroid couldn't be called that because there was already one named Eliot (for [[T.S. Eliot]]).

⚫
In August 2022 Steel pleaded guilty to [[burglary]] and breaching the New Zealand [[Harmful Digital Communications Act]]. He was sentenced to 12 months' [[house arrest]] and ordered to pay $3000 in reparation for emotional harm.{{r|herald|istuff}}

⚫
== Books published ==
* ''Rogue Asteroids and Doomsday Comets: The Search for the Million Megaton Menace That Threatens Life on Earth'' (Wiley, New York, 1995) (with a foreword by [[Arthur C. Clarke]]).
* ''Rogue Asteroids and Doomsday Comets: The Search for the Million Megaton Menace That Threatens Life on Earth'' (Wiley, New York, 1995) (with a foreword by [[Arthur C. Clarke]]).
* [https://archive.org/stream/EclipseDuncanSteel/Eclipse%20%20Duncan%20Steel#page/n0/mode/2up ''Eclipse: The Celestial Phenomenon Which Changed the Course of History''] (The Joseph Henry Press, Washington D.C., 2001) (with a foreword by [[Paul Davies]]).
* [https://archive.org/stream/EclipseDuncanSteel/Eclipse%20%20Duncan%20Steel#page/n0/mode/2up ''Eclipse: The Celestial Phenomenon Which Changed the Course of History''] (The Joseph Henry Press, Washington D.C., 2001) (with a foreword by [[Paul Davies]]).
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* ''Marking Time: The Epic Quest to Invent the Perfect Calendar'' (Wiley, New York, 2000).<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Hannah|first1=Robert|title=Review: Duncan Steel, Marking Time: The Epic Quest to Invent the Perfect Calendar|journal=Material Culture Review|date=2000|volume=52|url=https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/MCR/article/view/17875/22109}}</ref>
* ''Marking Time: The Epic Quest to Invent the Perfect Calendar'' (Wiley, New York, 2000).<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Hannah|first1=Robert|title=Review: Duncan Steel, Marking Time: The Epic Quest to Invent the Perfect Calendar|journal=Material Culture Review|date=2000|volume=52|url=https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/MCR/article/view/17875/22109}}</ref>
* ''Eclipse: The Celestial Phenomenon That Changed the Course of History'' (National Academies Press, Washington DC, 2001) (with a foreword by [[Paul Davies]]).
* ''Eclipse: The Celestial Phenomenon That Changed the Course of History'' (National Academies Press, Washington DC, 2001) (with a foreword by [[Paul Davies]]).

== Other achievements ==
* Duncan is a Fellow of the [[Royal Astronomical Society]] and a member of the [[International Astronomical Union]].
* He has discovered a dozen numbered minor planets including the [[9767 Midsomer Norton]], in 1992, which he named for his home town.<ref name="MPC-Discoverers" />
* The Hungaria asteroid [[4713 Steel]], discovered by [[Robert McNaught]] in 1989, is named after him.<ref name="springer" />
* He also discovered the asteroids [[5263 Arrius]] and [[6828 Elbsteel]] which were named for his sons by the International Astronomical Union. Amongst his other discoveries are: 10107 Kenny, named for his father; 16578 Essjayess, named for his mother (her initials are SJS); 24734 Kareness, named for his elder sister; 55815 Melindakim, named for his middle sister; 58196 Ashleyess, named for his youngest sister; and 69311 Russ, named for his brother. However, his favourite is [[7345 Happer]] (discovered by [[Robert H. McNaught]]), which is named for the character Felix Happer in the movie ''[[Local Hero (1983 film)|Local Hero]]'', who really wanted a comet to be called after him.
* There is a robot named after Duncan (viz. Robot Steel) in [[Arthur C. Clarke]]'s novel ''[[The Hammer of God (Clarke novel)|The Hammer of God]]''.
* He has worked for both [[NASA]] and the [[European Space Agency]].
* Duncan is author of over 140 refereed scientific research papers and a thousand newspaper and magazine articles.
* He has appeared in many TV and radio programmes, including BBC TV's ''[[The Sky at Night]]''.
* Duncan was Science Adviser for the two-hour documentary ''Three Minutes to Impact'', which was awarded an [[Emmy]] for Best Script in 1998.
* He was one of six foreign members of NASA's [[Spaceguard]] committee in 1991–92 and was the only non-US member of the Near-Earth Object Interception and Deflection committee.
* Duncan twice served as vice-president of [[The Spaceguard Foundation]].
* He was a member of the British Delegation to the OECD Global Science Forum conference on Near-Earth Objects, Frascati, Italy, 2003.


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist
{{reflist
|refs=
|refs=

<ref name=scopus>[https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=7101949437 Steel, Duncan I.]. ''[[Scopus]]''. Accessed September 2022.</ref>

<ref name=iau>[https://www.iau.org/administration/membership/individual/7065/ Duncan I. Steel]. International Astronomical Union. Accessed September 2022.</ref>


<ref name=istuff>Amy Ridout (11 August 2022). [https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/129545204/space-scientist-sent-womans-private-details-to-colleagues-and-family-broke-into-her-home Space scientist sent woman's private details to colleagues and family, broke into her home]. Stuff NZ. Accessed August 2022.</ref>
<ref name=istuff>Amy Ridout (11 August 2022). [https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/129545204/space-scientist-sent-womans-private-details-to-colleagues-and-family-broke-into-her-home Space scientist sent woman's private details to colleagues and family, broke into her home]. Stuff NZ. Accessed August 2022.</ref>
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|accessdate = 8 September 2016}}</ref>
|accessdate = 8 September 2016}}</ref>


<ref name="springer">{{cite book
<ref name=springer>{{cite book
|title = Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (4713) Steel
|title = Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (4713) Steel
|last = Schmadel | first = Lutz D.
|last = Schmadel | first = Lutz D.
|publisher = [[Springer Berlin Heidelberg]]
|publisher = [[Springer Berlin Heidelberg]]
|url = https://books.google.it/books?id=eHv1CAAAQBAJ&pg=PA619
|page = 406
|date = 2007
|date = 2007
|isbn = 978-3-540-00238-3
|isbn = 978-3-540-00238-3

Revision as of 10:01, 6 September 2022

This article is about the British astronomer. For the American physicist, see Duncan G. Steel.

Duncan I. Steel
EducationUniversity of London (BSc, 1977)
Queen Mary College (1978)
Imperial College of Science and Technology (MSc, DIC, 1979)
University of Canterbury (PhD, 1985)
Scientific career
FieldsSpace science

Duncan I. Steel is a British space scientist.[1] He has discovered several minor planets and has written four popular science books. He is a member of the International Astronomical Union, which lists him as working at the Xerra Earth Observation Institute in Nelson in New Zealand.[2] He was formerly on the staff of the University of Salford.[3]

Steel discovered twelve numbered minor planets between 1990 and 1994.[4] The asteroid 4713 Steel, discovered by Robert McNaught in 1989, is named after him.[5]: 619  According to Scopus, he has an h-index of 13.[3]

In August 2022 Steel pleaded guilty to burglary and breaching the New Zealand Harmful Digital Communications Act. He was sentenced to 12 months' house arrest and ordered to pay $3000 in reparation for emotional harm.[1][6]

Minor planets discovered: 12 [4]
5263 Arrius 13 April 1991
6828 Elbsteel 12 November 1990
9038 Helensteel 12 November 1990
9193 Geoffreycopland 10 March 1992
9758 Dainty 13 April 1991
9767 Midsomer Norton 10 March 1992
10107 Kenny 27 March 1992
16578 Essjayess 29 March 1992
24734 Kareness 10 March 1992
55815 Melindakim 31 December 1994
58196 Ashleyess 10 March 1992
69311 Russ 21 August 1992

Books

  • Rogue Asteroids and Doomsday Comets: The Search for the Million Megaton Menace That Threatens Life on Earth (Wiley, New York, 1995) (with a foreword by Arthur C. Clarke).
  • Eclipse: The Celestial Phenomenon Which Changed the Course of History (The Joseph Henry Press, Washington D.C., 2001) (with a foreword by Paul Davies).
  • Target Earth (Time Life 2000; Readers Digest 2001) (with an afterword by Arthur C. Clarke)[7]
  • Marking Time: The Epic Quest to Invent the Perfect Calendar (Wiley, New York, 2000).[8]
  • Eclipse: The Celestial Phenomenon That Changed the Course of History (National Academies Press, Washington DC, 2001) (with a foreword by Paul Davies).

References

  1. ^ a b Tracy Neal (11 August 2022). Space scientist Duncan Steel given home detention for campaign to humiliate woman he knew. New Zealand Herald. Accessed August 2022. [unreliable source?]
  2. ^ Duncan I. Steel. International Astronomical Union. Accessed September 2022.
  3. ^ a b Steel, Duncan I.. Scopus. Accessed September 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Minor Planet Discoverers (by number)". Minor Planet Center. 4 September 2016. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
  5. ^ Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(4713) Steel". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (4713) Steel. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_4625. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
  6. ^ Amy Ridout (11 August 2022). Space scientist sent woman's private details to colleagues and family, broke into her home. Stuff NZ. Accessed August 2022.
  7. ^ "Astronomy Book Reviews". SkyNews. 20 April 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  8. ^ Hannah, Robert (2000). "Review: Duncan Steel, Marking Time: The Epic Quest to Invent the Perfect Calendar". Material Culture Review. 52.
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