Scott S. Sheppard

Scott Sander Sheppard (born 1977) is an American astronomer and a discoverer of numerous moons, comets and minor planets in the outer Solar System.

He is an astronomer in the Department of Terrestrial Magnetism at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington, DC. He attended Oberlin College as an undergraduate, and received his bachelor in physics with honors in 1998. Starting as a graduate student at the Institute for Astronomy at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, he was credited with the discovery of many small moons of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. He has also discovered the first known trailing Neptune trojan,

[[2008 LC18|2008 LC 18]]

, the first named leading Neptune trojan, 385571 Otrera, and the first high inclination Neptune trojan,

[[2005 TN53|2005 TN

53]]. These discoveries showed that the Neptune trojan objects are mostly on highly inclined orbits and thus likely captured small bodies from elsewhere in the Solar System.

The main-belt asteroid 17898 Scottsheppard, discovered by LONEOS at Anderson Mesa Station in 1999, was named in his honor.

Discoveries

See also: Category:Discoveries by Scott S. Sheppard

Minor planets discovered: 23

[[(79978) 1999 CC158|(79978) 1999 CC 158]] || 15 February 1999 || list[A][B][C]
(131695) 2001 XS254	9 December 2001	list[B][D]
[[(131696) 2001 XT254|(131696) 2001 XT 254]] || 9 December 2001 || list[B][D]
[[(131697) 2001 XH255|(131697) 2001 XH 255]] || 11 December 2001 || list[B][D]
[[(148975) 2001 XA255|(148975) 2001 XA 255]] || 9 December 2001 || list[B][D]
(168700) 2000 GE147	2 April 2000	list[B][C]
(200840) 2001 XN254	9 December 2001	list
341520 Mors–Somnus	14 October 2007	list[C]
385571 Otrera	16 October 2004	list[C]
385695 Clete	8 October 2005	list[C]
(469420) 2001 XP254	10 December 2001	list[B][D]
(469421) 2001 XD255	9 December 2001	list[B][D]
471143 Dziewanna	13 March 2010	list[C][E][F]
(471165) 2010 HE79	21 April 2010	list[C][E][G]
(471921) 2013 FC28	17 March 2013	list[C]
(508792) 2000 FX53	31 March 2000	list[B][C]
(523671) 2013 FZ27	16 March 2013	list
(523672) 2013 FJ28	16 March 2013	list
(523693) 2014 FT71	24 March 2014	list
(524365) 2001 XQ254	10 December 2001	list[B][D]
(524366) 2001 XR254	10 December 2001	list[B][D]
[[(532037) 2013 FY27|(532037) 2013 FY 27]] || 17 March 2013 || list[C]
(532038) 2013 FB28	17 March 2013	list[C]
541132 Leleākūhonua	13 October 2015	list[C][H]
[[2021 PH27|2021 PH 27]] || 13 August 2021 || MPC
[[2022 AP7|2022 AP 7]] || 13 January 2022 || MPC
A with J. X. Luu B with D. C. Jewitt C with Chadwick Trujillo D with J. T. Kleyna E with A. Udalski F with M. Kubiak G with R. Poleski H with D. J. Tholen

Sheppard was the lead discoverer of the object with the most distant orbit known in the Solar System, [[2012 VP113|2012 VP 113]] (nicknamed Biden). In 2014, the similarity of the orbit of 2012 VP₁₁₃ to other extreme Kuiper belt object orbits led Sheppard and Trujillo to propose that an unknown Super-Earth mass planet (2–15 Earth masses) in the outermost Solar System beyond 200 AU and up to 1500 AU is shepherding these smaller bodies into similar orbits (see Planet X or Planet Nine). The extreme trans-Neptunian objects [[2013 FT28|2013 FT 28]] and [[2014 SR349|2014 SR

349]], announced in 2016 and co-discovered by Sheppard, further show a likely unknown massive planet exists beyond a few hundred AU in the Solar System, with 2013 FT₂₈ being the first known high semi-major axis and high perihelion object anti-aligned with the other known extreme objects. In 2018, the announcement of the high perihelion inner Oort cloud object 541132 Leleākūhonua (nicknamed "The Goblin") by Sheppard et al., being only the third known after 2012 VP₁₁₃ and Sedna, further demonstrated that a super-Earth planet in the distant solar system likely exists as Leleākūhonua has many orbital similarities as the two other known inner Oort cloud objects.

Most notable discoveries

Sheppard has been involved in the discovery of many small Solar System bodies such as trans-Neptunian objects, centaurs, comets and near-Earth objects.

• Three comets are named after him which are Sheppard-Trujillo (C/2014 F3), Sheppard-Tholen (C/2015 T5) and comet Trujillo-Sheppard (P/2018 V5).
• The possible dwarf planets discovered by Sheppard are 471143 Dziewanna, [[2010 KZ39|2010 KZ

39]], [[2010 FX86|2010 FX 86]], [[2013 FY27|2013 FY 27]], [[(523671) 2013 FZ27|(523671) 2013 FZ 27]] and [[2015 KH162|2015 KH

162]].

• In 2018, Sheppard was the lead discoverer of the most distant observed object in our solar system and first object observed beyond 100 AU, dwarf planet [[2018 VG18|2018 VG

18]] (nicknamed Farout), which is around 120 AU from the Sun.

• He discovered a minor-planet moon around likely dwarf planet [[2013 FY27|2013 FY

27]].

• He is also a co-discoverer of a minor-planet moon orbiting the binary trans-Neptunian object 341520 Mors–Somnus.
• Among the numerous irregular moons of the major planets in whose discovery he has been involved are:

Jupiter

Discovered moons of Jupiter (full list):

• Themisto (2000), first seen but lost in 1975 by Charles Kowal
• Harpalyke (2000)
• Praxidike (2000)
• Chaldene (2000)
• Isonoe (2000)
• Erinome (2000)
• Taygete (2000)
• Kalyke (2000)
• Megaclite (2000)
• Iocaste (2000)
• Dia (2000)
• Euporie (2001)
• Orthosie (2001)
• Euanthe (2001)
• Thyone (2001)
• Hermippe (2001)
• Pasithee (2001)
• Aitne (2001)
• Eurydome (2001)
• Autonoe (2001)
• Sponde (2001)
• Kale (2001)
• Arche (2002)
• Eukelade (2003)
• Helike (2003)
• Aoede (2003)
• Hegemone (2003)
• Kallichore (2003)
• Cyllene (2003)
• Mneme (2003)
• Thelxinoe (2003)
• Carpo (2003)
• Kore (2003)
• Herse (2003)
• S/2003 J 2 (2003)
• Eupheme (2003)
• S/2003 J 4 (2003)
• Eirene (2003)
• S/2003 J 9 (2003)
• S/2003 J 10 (2003)
• S/2003 J 12 (2003)
• Philophrosyne (2003)
• S/2003 J 16 (2003)
• Jupiter LV (2003)
• Jupiter LXI (2003)
• S/2003 J 23 (2003)
• S/2003 J 24 (2003)
• Jupiter LXXII (2011)
• Jupiter LVI (2011)
• S/2011 J 3 (2011)
• Jupiter LIV (2016)
• Valetudo (2016)
• S/2016 J 3 (2016)
• S/2016 J 4 (2016)
• Jupiter LIX (2017)
• Jupiter LXIII (2017)
• Jupiter LXIV (2017)
• Pandia (2017)
• Jupiter LXVI (2017)
• Jupiter LXVII (2017)
• Jupiter LXVIII (2017)
• Jupiter LXIX (2017)
• Jupiter LXX (2017)
• Ersa (2018)
• S/2018 J 2 (2018)
• S/2018 J 3 (2018)
• S/2018 J 4 (2018)
• S/2021 J 1 (2021)
• S/2021 J 2 (2021)
• S/2021 J 3 (2021)
• S/2021 J 4 (2021)
• S/2021 J 5 (2021)
• S/2021 J 6 (2021)
• S/2022 J 1 (2022)
• S/2022 J 2 (2022)
• S/2022 J 3 (2022)

Saturn

Discovered moons of Saturn (full list):

• Narvi (2003)
• Fornjot (2004)
• Farbauti (2004)
• Aegir (2004)
• Bebhionn (2004)
• Hati (2004)
• Bergelmir (2004)
• Fenrir (2004)
• Bestla (2004)
• S/2004 S 7 (2004)
• S/2004 S 12 (2004)
• S/2004 S 13 (2004)
• S/2004 S 17 (2004)
• Hyrrokkin (2004)
• Gridr (2004)
• S/2004 S 21 (2004)
• Angrboda (2004)
• Skrymir (2004)
• S/2004 S 24 (2004)
• Gerd (2004)
• Saturn LVIII (2004)
• Eggther (2004)
• S/2004 S 28 (2004)
• Saturn LX (2004)
• Beli (2004)
• S/2004 S 31 (2004)
• Gunnlod (2004)
• Thiazzi (2004)
• Saturn LXIV (2004)
• Alvaldi (2004)
• S/2004 S 36 (2004)
• S/2004 S 37 (2004)
• Geirrod (2004)
• S/2004 S 39 (2004)
• S/2004 S 40 (2004)
• S/2004 S 41 (2004)
• S/2004 S 42 (2004)
• S/2004 S 43 (2004)
• S/2004 S 44 (2004)
• S/2004 S 45 (2004)
• S/2004 S 46 (2004)
• S/2004 S 47 (2004)
• S/2004 S 48 (2004)
• S/2004 S 49 (2004)
• S/2004 S 50 (2004)
• S/2004 S 51 (2004)
• S/2004 S 52 (2004)
• S/2004 S 53 (2004)
• S/2005 S 4 (2005)
• S/2005 S 5 (2005)
• Kari (2006)
• Loge (2006)
• Surtur (2006)
• Skoll (2006)
• Greip (2006)
• Jarnsaxa (2006)
• S/2006 S 1 (2006)
• S/2006 S 3 (2006)
• S/2006 S 9 (2006)
• S/2006 S 10 (2006)
• S/2006 S 11 (2006)
• S/2006 S 12 (2006)
• S/2006 S 13 (2006)
• S/2006 S 14 (2006)
• S/2006 S 15 (2006)
• S/2006 S 16 (2006)
• S/2006 S 17 (2006)
• S/2006 S 18 (2006)
• S/2006 S 19 (2006)
• S/2006 S 20 (2006)
• Tarqeq (2007)
• S/2007 S 2 (2007)
• S/2007 S 3 (2007)
• S/2007 S 5 (2007)
• S/2007 S 6 (2007)
• S/2007 S 7 (2007)
• S/2007 S 8 (2007)
• S/2007 S 9 (2007)
• S/2019 S 3 (2019)
• S/2019 S 9 (2019)
• S/2019 S 11 (2019)
• S/2019 S 17 (2019)
• S/2019 S 18 (2019)
• S/2019 S 21 (2019)
• S/2020 S 1 (2020)
• S/2020 S 8 (2020)

Uranus

Discovered moons of Uranus (full list):

• Margaret (2003)
• Ferdinand (2003), first seen but lost in 2001 by Holman et al.
• S/2023 U 1 (2023)

Neptune

Discovered moons of Neptune (full list):

• Psamathe (2003)
• S/2002 N 5 (2021), first seen but lost in 2002 by Holman et al.
• S/2021 N 1 (2021)

See also

• List of minor planet discoverers § Discovering astronomers

References

External links

• Scott Sheppard's web site, Carnegie Institution for Science
• Scott S. Sheppard – Curriculum Vitae, Carnegie Institution for Science