User:Doctree/sandbox/Leslie Peltier expansion

Leslie Copus Peltier (January 2, 1900 – May 10, 1980) was an American amateur astronomer who is known to the public as discoverer or co-discoverer of ten comets. Within the astronomical community, he is known mostly for his work observing variable stars. He also discovered two novae.

Peltier received no formal astronomy education. He dropped out of school after his sophomore year of high school to help on the family farm. He educated himself with books from the public library until he could purchase books for himself.

Harlow Shapley described him as "the world's greatest non-professional astronomer".

Early life and education
Peltier was born on the family farm a few miles west of Delphos, Ohio.



Biography
Delphos is located in northwestern Ohio in both Van Wert and Allen County. His homeplace was located on South Bredeick Street, and his home is still standing today. The home was known as Brookehaven. Peltier married Dorothy Nihiser in November 1933. An amateur astronomer, he was a prolific discoverer of comets and also a persistent observer of variable stars and member of the AAVSO.

He wrote the heart-warming autobiographical Starlight Nights (ISBN 0-933346-94-8), which evokes the magic of stargazing in simpler days, on a farm and without light pollution.

Two inch refractor
Peltier's first telescope was a mail-order refractor. He made a mount for that telescope from a fence post and a grindstone. With that telescope, he began his observation of variable stars, regularly sending reports to the Harvard Observatory.

Six inch Cometfinder and Merry-go-round Observatory
The Merry-go-round Observatory was featured in the February 1940 issue of Popular Science magazine. The article included photographs and a detailed drawing of the construction of the observatory.

Comet discoveries
Peltier is credited as the discoverer or co-discoverer of ten comets.

Awards and Legacy
In 1967, Peltier was awarded the G. Bruce Blair Medal.

as is the Leslie C. Peltier Award of the Astronomical League.

Asteroid 3850 Peltier is named in his honor.,