Duncan Steel

Duncan I. Steel (born 1955) is a British space scientist. He has discovered several minor planets and has written four popular science books. He is a member of the International Astronomical Union, and has worked at the Xerra Earth Observation Institute in Nelson, in the South Island of New Zealand. He was formerly on the staff of the University of Salford in the United Kingdom. Steel completed a PhD at the University of Canterbury in 1984 with a thesis on the orbital characteristics of meteoroids.

Between 1990 and 1994 he discovered twelve numbered minor planets. The asteroid 4713 Steel, discovered by Robert McNaught in 1989, is named after him.

In August 2022 Steel pleaded guilty to burglary and breaching the New Zealand Harmful Digital Communications Act. He was sentenced to 12 months' house arrest and ordered to pay $3000 in reparation for emotional harm.

{| class="wikitable floatright" style="font-size:89%" |+ Minor planets discovered: 12  |- | 5263 Arrius || 13 April 1991 |- | 6828 Elbsteel || 12 November 1990 |- | 9038 Helensteel || 12 November 1990 |- | 9193 Geoffreycopland || 10 March 1992 |- | 9758 Dainty || 13 April 1991 |- | 9767 Midsomer Norton || 10 March 1992 |- | 10107 Kenny || 27 March 1992 |- | 16578 Essjayess || 29 March 1992 |- | 24734 Kareness || 10 March 1992 |- | 55815 Melindakim || 31 December 1994 |- | 58196 Ashleyess || 10 March 1992 |- | 69311 Russ || 21 August 1992 |} Provided by Wikipedia