Named in honour of David H. Levy (b. 1948-05-22 in Montreal), comet discoverer and observer, recognized for his perseverance in observing comets using the oldest visual and the newest electronic techniques. David did his undergraduate studies at Acadia University and earned a Master's degree in English literature from Queen's University in 1979 and holds honorary doctorate (DSc) degrees from both Queen's University (1994) and Acadia University (1995). Author of several books and articles, he is known for his biographies of astronomers Bart Bok, Clyde Tombaugh and Gene Shoemaker. As an educator David has concentrated on bringing observational astronomy to both amateur astronomers and to children, and he has initiated school and camp programs for this purpose. David won the Chant Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in 1980, the E. E. Barnard Award of the Western Amateur Astronomers in 1988, the Leslie C. Peltier Award of the Astronomical League in 1988, the G. Bruce Blair Award of the Western Amateur Astronomers in 1990 and the Walter H. Haas Award of the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers in 1990. David is science editor for Parade Magazine, hosts an astronomy talk show on KTKT radio in Tucson, and is Honorary President of the Montreal Centre and Kingston Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.

Name proposed and citation prepared by Steven Edberg.

Orbit type: Main Belt Asteroid 

Reference: MPC 12974 | JRASC