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Thomas C Van Flandern (June 26, 1940 – January 9, 2009) was an American astronomer and author specializing in celestial mechanics. Van Flandern had a career as a professional scientist, but was noted as an outspoken proponent of non-mainstream views related to astronomy, physics, and extra-terrestrial life. He also published the non-mainstream ''Meta Research Bulletin''. He died of colon cancer in Seattle, Washington. ==Biography== While in High School, Van Flandern helped start the Cleveland branch of Operation Moonwatch, an amateur science program initiated by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory to track satellites.〔''Cleveland Plain Dealer'' October 8, 1957 "Moonwatch Team Here Gets Set" page 5〕〔''The Pharos-Tribune and Logansport Press'' August 9, 1959 "Still Keeping Watch" Logansport, IN page 19〕 He also helped found a Moonwatchers team at Xavier University,〔''Xavier University News'' November 5, 1960 Mike Rogers "Satellite Spies Situate Tracking Station on Logan" page 1〕 and this team broke a tracking record in 1961.〔''Kingsport News'' May 17, 1961 "Reports Activity" page 10〕〔''The Anderson Herald'' May 17, 1961 "Cincy Moonwatchers Report on Satellites" page 2〕 Van Flandern graduated from Xavier University cum laude with a B.S. in Mathematics in 1962 and was awarded a teaching fellowship at Georgetown University.〔''Xavier University News'' May 4, 1962 "Tom Van Flandern Given Fellowship" page 9〕 He attended Yale University on a scholarship sponsored by the U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO), joining USNO in 1963. In 1969 he received a PhD in Astronomy from Yale, with a dissertation on lunar occultations. Van Flandern worked at the USNO until 1983, first becoming Chief of the Research Branch〔USNO Staff Directory for Nautical Almanac Office, December 1976〕 and later becoming Chief of the Celestial Mechanics Branch of the Nautical Almanac Office.〔USNO Staff Directory for Nautical Almanac Office, November 1977〕 His espousal of highly non-mainstream beliefs, particularly the exploded planet hypothesis, eventually led to his separation from the USNO. He later said, "This forced me to the 'fringes,' areas of astronomy not accepted as credible by experts of the field".〔Gonzo Science, Jim Richardson, Alan Richardson, p. 62, 2004.〕 Following his separation from the USNO, Van Flandern started a business organizing eclipse viewing expeditions, and promoting his non-mainstream views in a newsletter and web site. Shortly after his death in 2009, asteroid 52266 was named in his honor. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Tom Van Flandern」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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