Tom Boles

Tom Boles (born 1944 in Lennoxtown in Scotland) is a Scottish amateur astronomer, author, broadcaster and former communications and computer engineer. He currently holds the record of spotting the most supernovae by one person: 149 supernovae. As of 2003, Boles and Mark Armstrong are the "most successful exploding star hunters in history." 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 Professor Fritz Zwicky, who discovered 123 supernovae before his death in 1974. The record was unbroken for 36 years.

Boles has also discovered a nova in the Andromeda Galaxy and the asteroid (84417) Ritabo. Boles manages a private astronomical observatory [1] in Coddenham, Suffolk.

He was President of the British Astronomical Association from 2003 to 2005 and Vice President from 2005 to 2007. He is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and a member of Commission 28 of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). He is an Examinations Moderator in astronomy with the International Baccalaureate.

Boles has co-authored three text books on popular astronomy: 2008 Yearbook of Astronomy, edited by Sir Patrick Moore – (Pan Macmillan); More Small Astronomical Observatories, edited by Sir Patrick Moore – (Springer); and The Science and Art of CDD Astronomy, edited Ratledge – (Springer)

He has published numerous articles in: Astronomy Now; Sky and Telescope (US); The Star Observer (Austria); Sky at Night; Journal of the British Astronomical Association; The Astronomer; and Nature (US).

In 2008 he was awarded the Merlin Medal by the British Astronomical Association in recognition of his contribution to the advancement of astronomy. In 2008 the International Astronomical Union named asteroid (7648) Tomboles in recognition of his contribution to astronomy. He received the ‘George Alcock Award’ from The Astronomer Magazine. He presented the Inaugural Thomas Tannahill Memorial lecture in 2009 at the request of The Astronomical Society of Glasgow. He co-authored a research paper of Supernovae in Nature Magazine in 2007 – Nature, 447, 829-832, 14 June 2007

Boles’s Television broadcasts include: Co-presenting BBC Tomorrow’s World and guest appearances on: BBC The Sky at Night; BBC Final Frontiers; BBC All Night Star Party (from Jodrell 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. Boles holds a Bachelor’s Degree in biochemistry from the Open 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 public Outreach of astronomy.

See also

Fritz Zwicky