Thomas Boles (born 1944 inLennoxtown in Scotland) is a Scottishamateur astronomer, discoverer ofastronomical objects, author, broadcaster and former communications andcomputer engineer, who observes from his private "Coddenham Observatory" (234) inCoddenham,Suffolk, United Kingdom.[1][2] He is known for having discovered a record number ofsupernovae.[3][4] The main-belt asteroid7648 Tomboles is named in his honor.[1]
He was President of theBritish Astronomical Association from 2003 to 2005 and Vice President from 2005 to 2007. He is a Fellow of theRoyal Astronomical Society and an Examinations Moderator in astronomy with theInternational Baccalaureate. At theInternational Astronomical Union, he was a member ofDivision VIII Galaxies & the Universe and "Commission 28" until 2012 and 2015, respectively, and is a member of IAU's division C and J (Education, Outreach and Heritage; Galaxies and Cosmology).[5]
Boles has co-authored three text books on popular astronomy and has published numerous articles inAstronomy Now,Sky and Telescope; the AustrianThe Star Observer, theJournal of the British Astronomical Association, and in the journalThe Astronomer.[citation needed] In 2007 he co-authored a research paper about a "giant outburst two years before the core-collapse of a massive star" in the journalNature.[6]
Boles holds a bachelor's degree in biochemistry from theOpen University. He held director level appointments over a period of 18 years with four multinational computer companies. He retired in 2001 to dedicate himself to astronomy work and to help with the publicOutreach of astronomy.[citation needed]
| 84417 Ritabo | 5 October 2002 | MPC |
He holds the record of spotting the most supernovae by one person: 149 supernovae.[4] As of 2003, Boles andMark Armstrong are the "most successful exploding star hunters in history."[3] He broke the record after discovering his 124th supernova '2009ij', followed by supernova number 125 '2009io' a few nights later. The previous record holder was Swiss astronomerFritz Zwicky, who discovered 123 supernovae before his death in 1974. The record was unbroken for 36 years.[8]
Boles has also discovered anova in theAndromeda Galaxy and84417 Ritabo, anasteroid in the middle region of themain-belt, which he named after his wife Rita Boles.[9]
In 2008 he was awarded the Merlin Medal by theBritish Astronomical Association in recognition of his contribution to the advancement of astronomy. In 2008 the inner main-belt asteroid7648 Tomboles, discovered by Japanese astronomersYoshikane Mizuno andToshimasa Furuta, was named after him in recognition of his contribution to astronomy.[1] He received theGeorge Alcock Award fromThe Astronomer Magazine. He presented the Inaugural Thomas Tannahill Memorial lecture in 2009 at the request of theAstronomical Society of Glasgow.
Boles has co-authored three text books onpopular astronomy:
Boles's Television broadcasts include: Co-presenting BBC Tomorrow's World and guest appearances on several BBC programmes such asThe Sky at Night,Final Frontiers,All Night Star Party (fromJodrell Bank); BBC Astronomers and ITV Vera Productions. Radio Broadcasts include Radio 2, Suffolk Radio, BBC Essex, Radio Northampton, Three Counties Radio, Radio Scotland, World Radio (Netherlands) and BBC Citizen Science.[citation needed]
In his later years, (2021-2022) Boles has also written three thrillers, recounting the adventures of Cambridge astronomer Brad Willis, who also moonlight forMI6 in cases where his scientific knowledge is needed.
'2009ij' in August 2009 ... number 125 or '2009io' a few nights later