+ Minor planets discovered: 1,180 see

John Broughton (born 1952) is an Australian amateur astronomer and artist. He is among the most prolific discoverers of minor planets worldwide, credited by the Minor Planet Center with more than 1,000 discoveries made between 1997 and 2008. His observations are done at Reedy Creek Observatory in Queensland, Australia.

In 2002, Broughton was one of five astronomers to be awarded a "Gene Shoemaker NEO Grant" by the Planetary Society to support his work on near-Earth asteroids. The money enabled the purchase of a CCD camera for use initially on a 10" SCT and later on a 20" f/2.7 automated telescope he designed and constructed, with first light occurring 10 April 2004.

Asteroid 24105 Broughton was named in his honour in 2005, and he later won the 2008 Page Medal.

Discoveries and research

Broughton is the discoverer of four near-Earth objects, two of which are potentially hazardous asteroids (PHA). Discovered 11 April 2004 on the first full night of operations with the 20" telescope, Apollo asteroid is one of only 157 known kilometer-size PHAs and the largest such discovery made by a non-professional astronomer. The short-period comet 513P/Broughton was discovered in October 2005, followed nine months later by the hyperbolic comet C/2006 OF2 (Broughton) at a distant 7.7 AU from the sun and more than two years from reaching its perihelion.

In 2003, Broughton began observing asteroid occultations by taking trailed CCD exposures and measuring the resulting dips in brightness. Subsequently, he developed methods and applications to facilitate the observation, timing and analysis. By 2010, he had switched to using sensitive video cameras, and began designing telescopes better suited to multi-station field work than what is commercially available, culminating in collapsible alt-alt telescopes of moderate size, compact enough to take anywhere in the world in standard airline baggage. In 2011, he formulated a method to derive asteroid dimensions by integrating the results of separate occultations. The tables are periodically updated and now include over 500 asteroids.

List of discovered minor planets

8749 Beatles 3 April 1998 8958 Stargazer 23 March 1998 9241 Rosfranklin 10 August 1997 11196 Michanikos 22 January 1999 11365 NASA 23 March 1998 11425 Wearydunlop 18 June 1999 12113 Hollows 29 July 1998 12542 Laver 10 August 1998 13298 Namatjira 15 September 1998 14621 Tati 22 October 1998 15092 Beegees 15 March 1999 15495 Bogie 17 February 1999 15550 Sydney 31 March 2000 15947 Milligan 2 January 1998 16046 Gregnorman 5 May 1999 16155 Buddy 3 January 2000 16260 Sputnik 9 May 2000 17023 Abbott 7 March 1999 17024 Costello 15 March 1999 17038 Wake 26 March 1999 17058 Rocknroll 13 April 1999 17059 Elvis 15 April 1999 17078 Sellers 24 April 1999 17166 Secombe 17 June 1999 17269 Dicksmith 3 June 2000 17270 Nolthenius 4 June 2000 17283 Ustinov 24 June 2000 17826 Normanwisdom 3 April 1998 17892 Morecambewise 15 March 1999 17936 Nilus 24 April 1999 17945 Hawass 14 May 1999 18125 Brianwilson 22 July 2000 18132 Spector 30 July 2000 18747 Lexcen 26 March 1999 18839 Whiteley 5 August 1999 18932 Robinhood 28 August 2000 19453 Murdochorne 28 March 1998 19535 Rowanatkinson 24 April 1999 19578 Kirkdouglas 20 June 1999 19582 Blow 13 July 1999 19631 Greensleeves 13 September 1999 20314 Johnharrison 28 March 1998 20403 Attenborough 22 July 1998 20468 Petercook 13 July 1999 20469 Dudleymoore 13 July 1999 21476 Petrie 28 April 1998 10 August 1999 10 August 1999 13 September 1999 15 September 1999 27 July 1998 29 July 1998 22754 Olympus 26 November 1998 23032 Fossey 3 December 1999 23774 Herbelliott 26 June 1998 24450 Victorchang 29 August 2000 18 August 1998 25058 Shanegould 25 August 1998 13 October 1998 13 October 1998 15 October 1998 14 November 1998 15 November 1998 5 March 2000 14 March 2000 3 March 2001 22 October 1998 3 April 2000 2 June 2000 18 April 2001 23 April 2001 1 July 2001 1 July 1998 22 July 1998 10 March 1999 4 March 2000 31 March 2000 23 July 2000 15 April 1999 29898 Richardnugent 19 April 1999 15 March 2000 2 June 2000 30439 Moe 21 June 2000 30440 Larry 22 June 2000 30441 Curly 24 June 2000 30444 Shemp 5 July 2000 13 July 2001 25 August 1997 31344 Agathon 30 July 1998 14 February 1999 7 March 1999 12 April 1999 18 June 1999 6 June 2000 23 June 2000 24 June 2000 26 June 2000 29 June 2000 24 July 2000 29 July 2000 29 July 2000 12 July 2001 5 August 1997 2 January 1998 7 March 1999 19 April 1999 13 May 1999 7 July 1999 15 August 1999 27 May 2000 24 June 2000 23 July 2000 23 July 2000 28 August 2000 13 May 1999 11 July 1999 13 August 1999 29 July 2000 30 July 2000 9 August 2000 5 March 1998 13 September 1998 13 July 1999 9 August 1999 10 August 1999 13 August 1999 13 August 1999 1 August 2000 31 August 2000 24 April 1998 17 August 1998 18 August 1998 12 October 1998 21 October 1998 13 May 1999 17 June 1999 6 July 1999 12 September 1999 13 September 1999 16 September 1999 41488 Sindbad 29 August 2000 2 January 1998 9 August 1999 4 September 1999 43293 Banting 1 April 2000 14 August 2001 21 May 1998 23 July 1998 29 July 1998 44217 Whittle 12 August 1998 13 October 1998 15 October 1998 22 December 1998 17 July 1999 4 August 1999 4 August 1999 2 June 2000 6 June 2000 23 August 2000 19 March 2001 24 April 1998 15 October 1998 24 April 1999 5 August 2002 25 August 1997 22 July 1998 29 July 1998 10 August 1998 24 August 1998 28 October 1998 11 April 2000 6 June 2000 22 June 2000 24 February 2001 22 March 2001 19 April 2001 23 April 2001 21 July 2001 23 July 2001 27 March 1998 24 August 1998 14 February 1999 17 February 1999 24 April 1999 13 May 1999 4 June 2000 4 June 2000 24 June 2000 5 July 2000 27 July 2000 54521 Aladdin 23 August 2000 27 August 2000 12 July 2001 13 July 2001 19 July 2001 19 July 2001 28 July 2001 15 September 1998 13 February 1999 15 April 1999 5 March 2000 15 March 2000 6 May 2000 11 May 2000 24 June 2000 27 June 2000 21 August 2000 23 August 2000 19 July 2001 21 July 2001 17 August 2001 19 August 2001 21 May 1998 22 May 1998 19 April 1999 14 May 1999 18 June 1999 20 June 1999 13 July 1999 18 July 1999 10 August 1999 4 June 2000 23 June 2000 27 June 2000 5 July 2000 30 July 2000 1 August 2000 23 August 2000 28 August 2000 18 June 2001 16 July 2001 23 July 2001 28 July 2001 9 August 2001 21 April 2002 12 August 2002 25 August 1997 26 February 1998 22 July 1998 14 March 1999 18 April 1999 13 May 1999 14 May 1999 13 September 1999 28 May 2000 29 June 2000 13 August 2001 14 August 2001 8 March 2003 3 May 2003 24 August 1998 15 September 1998 15 October 1998 18 July 1999 11 August 1999 15 August 1999 6 March 2000 19 March 2001 16 April 2001 19 April 2001 23 July 2001 12 May 2002 9 June 2002 18 June 2002 22 August 2003 25 August 1997 22 July 1998 28 July 1998 20 June 1999 19 July 1999 12 September 1999 19 March 2001 20 March 2001 19 July 2001 16 August 2001 4 July 2002 13 July 2002 15 July 2002 16 July 2002 31 July 2002 10 August 2002 12 August 2002 30 July 1998 17 August 1998 4 June 2000 6 July 2000 22 July 2000 18 April 2001 27 April 2001 20 June 2001 26 June 2001 20 July 2001 20 July 2001 31 July 2002 13 August 1999 27 May 2000 26 June 2000 24 July 2000 23 August 2000 29 August 2000 31 August 2000 19 June 2003 26 February 1998 13 August 1999 7 November 1999 7 November 1999 3 April 2000 27 May 2000 29 May 2000 2 June 2000 29 June 2000 29 June 2000 5 July 2000 30 July 2000 28 August 2000 30 April 2003 1 June 2003 5 June 2003 4 June 2003 9 June 2003 18 July 2004 9 August 2004 10 August 2004 12 August 2004 13 August 2004 14 August 2004 21 August 2004 17 July 1999 5 July 2000 9 August 2000 28 August 2000 24 May 2001 12 July 2002 26 June 1998 13 July 1999 15 August 1999 2 June 2000 27 June 2000 29 June 2000 23 April 2001 24 April 2001 18 June 2001 18 June 2001 23 July 2001 28 July 2001 29 July 2001 15 August 2001 17 August 2001 17 August 2001 19 August 2001 10 June 2002 5 July 2002 6 July 2002 14 July 2002 14 July 2002 15 July 2002 16 July 2002 16 July 2002 10 August 2002 14 August 2002 29 April 2003 2 May 2003 10 May 2003 24 May 2003 24 May 2003 20 June 2003 29 June 2003 29 June 2003 3 July 2003 20 July 2003 24 July 2003 24 July 2003 24 July 2003 27 July 2003 29 July 2003 1 August 2003 20 August 2003 10 April 2004 11 May 2004 12 May 2004 13 May 2004 13 May 2004 17 May 2004 21 July 2004 6 August 2004 14 August 2004 14 April 2005 14 April 2005 15 May 2005 29 May 2005 3 April 2003 9 April 2003 5 June 2003 27 August 2003 16 May 2004 9 July 2004 29 July 1998 10 November 1998 8 May 1999 7 July 1999 15 September 1999 27 June 2000 14 May 2002 23 April 2003 29 April 2003 22 May 2003 26 May 2003 6 June 2003 3 July 2003 17 July 2003 25 July 2003 27 July 2003 27 July 2003 31 July 2003 29 July 2003 1 August 2003 2 August 2003 20 August 2003 22 August 2003 24 August 2003 25 August 2003 30 August 2003 28 June 2004 8 July 2004 8 July 2004 21 July 2004 28 July 2004 6 August 2004 11 August 2004 11 August 2004 15 August 2004 21 August 2004 9 July 2005 6 July 1999 26 August 2000 2 May 2001 16 July 2001 11 May 2003 5 July 2003 7 July 2003 26 July 2003 27 July 2003 27 July 2003 28 July 2003 31 July 2003 22 August 2003 24 August 2003 25 August 2003 25 August 2003 7 July 1999 2 May 2001 5 July 2002 15 July 2002 21 May 2003 13 July 1999 30 July 2000 22 May 2001 21 July 2001 17 August 2001 17 August 2001 18 June 2002 8 July 2002 16 July 2002 31 July 2002 1 August 2002 14 August 2002 7 July 2003 22 April 2004 10 May 2004 12 May 2004 12 May 2004 16 July 2004 3 May 2005 16 May 2005 28 May 2005 30 May 2005 1 June 2005 1 June 2005 1 June 2005 3 June 2005 2 July 2005 7 July 2005 10 July 2005 13 July 2005 27 July 2005 15 August 2006 18 August 1998 12 August 2002 16 May 2004 17 July 2004 4 June 2003 16 May 2004 21 July 2004 19 August 2004 7 July 2005 7 July 2005 9 August 2005 15 August 2005 28 July 2001 29 July 2001 24 May 2003 7 July 2003 10 June 2004 8 July 2004 20 September 2005 23 July 2000 16 August 2001 3 May 2003 10 May 2004 22 June 2004 27 June 2004 12 July 2004 19 July 2004 20 July 2004 12 August 2004 28 July 2005 3 May 2003 25 August 2003 17 July 2004 6 August 2004 6 August 2004 24 July 2003 8 July 2004 17 July 2004 6 August 2004 9 August 2004 23 July 2000 21 May 2003 29 June 2003 5 June 2003 7 July 2003 14 July 2004 2 May 2005 3 July 2003 6 July 2003 31 July 2003 26 August 2003 2 September 2003 10 June 2004 17 August 1998 19 September 1998 4 July 2002 1 June 2003 1 June 2003 26 June 2003 3 July 2003 20 July 2003 2 September 2003 21 August 2004 19 May 2006 11 August 2007 10 June 2002 5 August 2002 23 May 2003 3 July 2003 24 July 2003 27 July 2003 28 July 2003 30 April 2005 3 May 2006 5 May 2006 5 August 2007 10 August 2007 19 April 2002 7 August 2002 6 July 2003 26 July 2003 25 April 2004 31 May 2005 5 June 2005 24 April 2006 3 May 2006 1 July 2006 18 April 2002 28 July 2003 29 July 2003 24 August 2003 28 April 2005 2 May 2005 6 July 2005 14 July 2005 20 June 1999 1 August 2002 12 April 2004 3 June 2005 7 July 2005 14 April 2005 3 June 2005 10 July 2005 14 August 2006 17 August 1998 24 August 1998 21 April 2004 8 July 2004 18 July 2004 30 May 2005 31 May 2005 2 July 2005 6 July 2005 6 July 2005 28 July 2005 6 August 2005 2 August 2005 6 August 2005 24 August 2005 20 July 2006 3 July 2003 27 July 2003 21 April 2004 30 April 2004 13 May 2004 17 May 2004 18 June 2004 6 August 2004 28 May 2005 3 June 2005 4 June 2005 2 July 2005 7 July 2005 10 July 2005 10 July 2005 13 July 2005 14 July 2005 26 July 2005 26 July 2005 27 July 2005 9 August 2005 10 July 2003 11 April 2004 9 August 2004 15 August 2004 14 July 2005 7 August 2005 7 October 2005 14 August 2004 6 July 2005 29 July 2005 10 August 2005 1 June 2003 4 September 2003 23 April 2003 27 June 2004 20 July 2004 23 May 2003 3 September 2003 12 July 2004 17 July 2004 28 July 2005 14 July 2002 30 April 2003