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David D. Balam/ˈbeɪləm/^{[citation needed]} is aCanadianastronomer and a research associate withUniversity of Victoria's Department ofPhysics andAstronomy, inVictoria,British Columbia.^{[citation needed]} Specializing in the search forNear-Earth objects, as of 1998 Balam was one of the world's most prolific contributors to this research.^[2] As of 2007, only two astronomers have had made more such discoveries than Balam.^[3] As of October 2025^[update], he is credited with the discovery or co-discovery of 108 asteroids.^[1] He has discovered over a thousand extra-galacticsupernovae,^[3] andnovae in thegalaxy M31.^{[citation needed]} Balam is also co-credited for the 1997 discovery ofComet Zhu-Balam.^[4][5]

Among celestial bodies discovered by Balam are the asteroid150145 Uvic, which he named for the University of Victoria,^[3] and197856 Tafelmusik, named for theBaroque orchestra inToronto.^[6] Currently,^[when?] Balam conducts an optical transient survey (OTS) using the 1.82-mPlaskett Telescope of theNational Research Council of Canada.^{[citation needed]}

The asteroid3749 Balam is named in his honour, recognizing the fact that he developed most of the software for the university'sastrometric program on minor planets and comets.^[7]

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