Comet chaser will donate his logs to Linda Hall Library

A man who has an asteroid named after him will speak Thursday at the Linda Hall Library about astronomy and his observations over the decades.

David H. Levy, who has discovered 22 comets, will also donate his night sky observation logs to the library. They encompass more than 18,000 sessions spanning nearly 60 years.

Levy co-discovered Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9, which famously collided with Jupiter in full view from Earth in 1994.

“Turning over decades of my work captured in these observation logs is much the same emotion as if I was donating my own children,” the Canadian astronomer said in an announcement of the gift. “The upside is I know the Linda Hall Library will take good care of them.”

The library’s collection includes works by astronomers Galileo Galilei, Isaac Newton and Tycho Brahe.

Levy’s talk and multimedia presentation is at 7 p.m. Thursday at the library, 5109 Cherry St. The event is free but registration is required. Go to http://www.lindahall.org/

This story was originally published September 6, 2015 at 12:06 PM.