Vale Bill Bradfield
Words by Suzy.
William A. Bradfield, 1928-2014.
There's many sad faces in the astronomical community at the moment due to the passing away of Bill Bradfield after a long battle with illness on 9th June.
Bill Bradfield is history's most prolific visual comet hunter, credited with the discovery of 18 comets visually between 1972 and 2004- six more than any other amateur astronomer alive. He was a rarity and in a class of his own using nothing but his eyes and a homemade telescope.
Between 1995 and his last comet discovery in 2004 (comet 2004 F4 Bradfield) there was a nine year spell involving 900 hours of searching. Not surprising, as by this stage, computerised searches using digital equipment were making it difficult for people like Bradfield to find their own comets. In fact, for that 16 month period during January 2003 and May 2004, he was only one of two people in the world to have outsmarted those robots.
That final comet discovery in 2004 earned him the prestigious Edgar Wilson award for amateur comet discovery. Not forgetting he was also made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1989 and had an asteroid officially named after him during his successful amateur career.
R.I.P Bill Bradfield.
Bill Bradfield was a renowned amateur astronomer from Australia who discovered over 18 comets during his lifetime. He was known for his meticulous observations and his ability to spot faint comets in the night sky. His discoveries have greatly advanced our understanding of these celestial objects.
Bradfield's interest in astronomy began at a young age, and he became fascinated with comets after seeing Comet Arend-Roland in 1957. He began searching for comets using a small telescope and eventually developed a reputation for his skills as a comet hunter.
Some of Bradfield's most famous comet discoveries include Comet Bradfield (C/1972 E1), which was visible to the naked eye, and Comet Bradfield (C/2004 F4), which was the brightest comet of 2004. He also discovered periodic comets such as 152P/Helin-Lawrence and 157P/Tritton.
Bradfield's contributions to comet hunting have greatly impacted the field of astronomy. He was known for his dedication and passion for observing and tracking comets, and his discoveries have helped scientists better understand the origins and behavior of these objects in our solar system.
The scientific community mourned the loss of Bill Bradfield, recognizing him as a highly skilled and influential astronomer. Many colleagues and fellow comet hunters paid tribute to his contributions and legacy, and his passing was felt deeply by the astronomy community worldwide.