MINOR PLANET CRISMAN

Inner Solar System Object Named In Honor Of Jim Crisman

 
Club member Jim Crisman attended a retirement party for Lowell Observatory Director Robert Millis at the observatory in June 2009. Dr. Millis had an astounding surprise for Jim. The astronomer had discovered a minor planet in 2002 and in 2009 honored Jim by naming the object "Crisman".
The object is listed by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) as Minor Planet (127545) Crisman. The IAU grants naming privilege to the discoverer who also must write a short citation of the reason for the name assignment.
 
Jim shows off commerative plaque at November 24 2009 Club meeting.    Photo by S. Dermer
Discoverer Millis's citation on the plaque reads:  "James R. Crisman (b. 1937) founded the Astronomy Club of Sun City West (Arizona) in 1986 and served as president of the club for 13 years. An avid observer and popular speaker, Crisman is a long-time supporter of the Lowell Observatory."

Jim and his wife, Vivian, organized an astronomy club as a chartered club of Recreation Centers of Sun City West. Membership was limited to Sun City West residents, but non-residents were welcome to sit in at meetings.
They built Cottontail Astronomical Observatory attached to their home and Jim taught "Basic Astronomy" at Rio Salado College in Surprise' Arizona

In 1999, Club members voted to resign from the Recreation Centers and reform as West Valley Astronomy Club. Membership was opened to "residents of the local solar system".

Another, but equally significant, change in the Club occurred in late in 1999. Jim could not continue as President because of a decline in his health. And Vivian, too, felt really burdened by her load of administrative duties to the Club. They had to readjust their life mode and style.

The Crismans began staying in Munds Park, about 30 miles south of Flagstaff, in the late Spring, Summer and early Fall months. While staying at Munds Park they volunteer generous amounts of their time at Lowell Observatory. The naming of the minor planet is evidence of the staff's appreciation of and high esteem for the Crismans and their service.

How many amateur astronomy clubs have a member whose name is assigned to an astronomical object?

Discovery Details

Dr Mellis discovered Minor Planet Crisman December 4 2002 at Kitt Peak Observatory. After its orbit had been determined reliably, it given a permanent designation number and a provisional designation. Then the discoverer is invited to suggest a name for the object. The discoverer writes a short citation explaining the reasons for assigning the name.

Here is the IAU listing of the discovery of two Minor Planets on the same date from the same observation site:

Permanent
Number		 Name Provisional
Designation		 Discovery
Date		 Site Citation
Reference		 Discoverer
(127545) Crisman 2002 XZ91 2002 12 04 Kitt Peak 66243 Millis, R.
(127546)   2002 XU93 2002 12 04 Kitt Peak   Buie, M. W.
Provisional Designation short form expression: 02XG91

Dr. Marc Buie is a Lowell colleague of Mellis. In 1999 the two astronomers co-discovered (38084) 1999 HB12 a not named trans-Neptunian object.

Crisman, the Minor Planet

Minor Planet Crisman is a Main Asteroid Belt member. The Belt comprises solar system objects that circle the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. Its material composition is not known. On November 7 2009 its computed orbital parameters were:

Absolute Magnitude Perihelion Aphelion Orbital period
16.0 2.0496 AU 2.4611 AU 1237.14 days
Absolute magnitude = visual magnitude if the asteroid were placed at 1 AU
At left picture of the commemarative plaque presented to Jim has been marked up by web page author to point out the orbits of Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Minor Planet Crisman. The assignment citation with the permanent number, provisional designation, discovery date, discovery site, citation reference number, and discoverer(s) are on the line above the citation.
Pictured right, Dr. Mellis, standing to right of Jim Crisman, hands over commemarative plaque to Jim at Mellis's retirement party.
Astrophysicist Dr. Eileen Friel become the tenth Director of the Observatory. Dr Millis has served as the Lowell Observatory Director since 1989. Millis stepped down as Director on June 15th 2009.

Here is another person whose name identifies an astronomical object. Carolyn Shoemaker, a co-discover of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 stands next to Jim at Dr. Mellis's retirement celebration.
The International Astronomical Union is head quarted at the Center for Astrophyics (CfA) at Harvard University. Web link to lists of numbered planets is Numbered Minor Planets  The citation is on fie at  Citation 127545 reference number 66243.

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