Tim Hunter (astronomer)
Radiologist and amateur astronomer who co-founded the International Dark-Sky Association.
Tim Hunter is an American radiologist and amateur astronomer, best known for his work in combating light pollution. He was the president of the International Dark-Sky Association, which he co-founded in 1987 with David Crawford.
- Born
- Not stated
- Education
- M.D. from Northwestern University (1968); B.S. in mathematics from University of Arizona (1980); M.S. in astronomy from Swinburne University of Technology (2006)
- Profession
- Professor of radiology and orthopaedic surgery at University of Arizona College of Medicine
- Astronomy role
- President of International Dark-Sky Association; co-founder with David Crawford (1987)
- Awards
- Presidential Award of the Astronomical League (2004); Amateur Achievement Award of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (2005)
- Asteroid
- 6398 Timhunter, discovered by Carolyn Shoemaker at Palomar Observatory in 1991, named in his honor (citation published 1 June 1996)
Lore & Background
Since 1986, Hunter has studied the problem of increasing light pollution. In 1987, together with David Crawford, he founded the International Dark-Sky Association, which grew to more than 10,000 members in 75 countries as of 2007. His efforts in this field earned him the Presidential Award of the Astronomical League in 2004 and the Amateur Achievement Award of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific in 2005. He is also a member of the Planetary Science Institute Board of Trustees and a past chairman of the Western Region of the Astronomical League. Asteroid 6398 Timhunter, discovered by Carolyn Shoemaker at Palomar Observatory in 1991, was named in his honor, with the official naming citation published by the Minor Planet Center on 1 June 1996.
Reader's Guide
Tim Hunter's significance lies in his leadership in the fight against light pollution, a growing threat to amateur and professional astronomy. As co-founder and president of the International Dark-Sky Association, he helped create an organization that, by 2007, had over 10,000 members across 75 countries, raising global awareness about the impact of artificial lighting on the night sky. His work earned him two major amateur astronomy awards: the Presidential Award of the Astronomical League in 2004 and the Amateur Achievement Award of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific in 2005. His legacy is further cemented by the naming of asteroid 6398 Timhunter in his honor, a recognition from the astronomical community for his contributions. His roles as a member of the Planetary Science Institute Board of Trustees and past chairman of the Western Region of the Astronomical League underscore his ongoing involvement in astronomy beyond his clinical profession.
Did You Know?
- Tim Hunter co-founded the International Dark-Sky Association in 1987 with David Crawford.
- He earned an M.S. in astronomy from Swinburne University of Technology in 2006.
- Asteroid 6398 Timhunter was named after him, discovered by Carolyn Shoemaker in 1991.
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