Brian A. Skiff is an American astronomer noted for discovering numerous asteroids and a number of comets including the periodic comets 114P/WisemanâÂÂSkiff (with Jennifer Wiseman) and 140P/BowellâÂÂSkiff (with Edward Bowell). He is also known for his photometry work on Sun-like stars and on the rotational light curves of asteroids.
Skiff received his BS from Northern Arizona University in 1977 and has worked as an astronomer at Lowell Observatory since 1976.
Between 1980 and 1997, he has also discovered a total 60 numbered minor planets, including , a dark Jupiter trojan about 37 kilometers in diameter. Working on the LONEOS project he rediscovered the long lost asteroid 69230 Hermes in October 2003 and the Apohele asteroid in May 2004.
The Florian main-belt asteroid 2554 Skiff was named in his honor. The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 8 April 1982 ().
Skiff received the Texas Star PartyâÂÂs Lone Star Gazer Award in 1986.
Skiff received the William Tyler Olcott Distinguished Service Award from the American Association of Variable Star Observers in 2011.
Brian Skiff is credited with the discovery and co-discovery of 60 minor planets between 1981 and 1997. The co-discovery of 2557 Putnam, 3256 Daguerre, 3807 Pagels and 4193 Salanave he made in collaboration with Norman G. Thomas .
Skiff has published 122 refereed papers on astronomy. His most cited paper is:
He is also the author of two books: