Golden Ears Observatory Reaches Its 100th Discovery!

The night of the 17th of June 2026 marks a very special milestone for Golden Ears Observatory: our 100th astronomical discovery.

The object, internally designated PAPA-SHANKAR-240326, has been classified as a Dwarf Nova, SU UMa subtype by Italian Astronomers Andreoli.V and Castellani.F at Novezzina Observatory, Italy. The object has also been observed by ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System) in Hawaii providing independent verification of the transient’s existence.

https://www.wis-tns.org/object/2026pli

While every discovery is exciting, this one carries a deeply personal meaning. The designation honors my father, Shankar, who passed away in March of this year. He encouraged my curiosity from an early age, supported my passion for science, and would have been immensely proud to see this milestone reached. This discovery is dedicated to his memory.

100th Discovery Link:
https://vsx.aavso.org/index.php?view=detail.top&oid=10875875

100 Discoveries List
https://interstellargalactic.com/?page_id=154

Looking back, it is humbling to realize how far the observatory has come.

What started in 2021 as a modest sky survey using an amateur-grade telescope, custom-written software, and many long nights of manual operation searching for minor planets has evolved into a largely autonomous observatory. Today, observations are scheduled automatically, data are processed automatically, and even report submissions are handled through bots and APIs. Yet despite all the automation, one critical step remains human: the careful vetting of every candidate detection. Separating genuine discoveries from artifacts still requires patience, experience, and many hours of manual review.

Over the years, Golden Ears Observatory has contributed to minor planet discoveries, near-Earth object follow-up observations, transient astronomy, and planetary defense activities through the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN). Along the way, the observatory has accumulated over 33,000 astrometric observations, observed more than 6,900 unique objects, operated on 447 observing nights, and has been associated with more than 120 discovery MPECs.

One of the most rewarding aspects of these discoveries has been seeing them independently detected and confirmed by some of the world’s premier astronomical facilities. Objects first reported by Golden Ears Observatory have subsequently been observed by space-based missions such as GAIA and Canada’s NEOSSat, as well as major professional survey programs including ATLAS (Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System), the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), and the MASTER Global Robotic Network. These independent detections provide valuable confirmation and demonstrate that discoveries made with modest amateur equipment can contribute meaningfully to the global astronomical community.

Based on publicly available MPC statistics, Golden Ears Observatory has become one of Canada’s most productive amateur observatories and compares favorably with many larger facilities worldwide. What makes this achievement particularly meaningful is that it has been accomplished with relatively modest amateur-grade instrumentation.

The 100 discoveries represent more than numbers. They represent thousands of hours spent under the stars, weather frustrations, equipment failures and successful recoveries.

Thank you to everyone who has followed, encouraged, collaborated, and shared in this journey.

Here’s to the next hundred discoveries.

Clear skies,

Bal