Walter R. Cooney Jr.


Walter R. Cooney Jr. is an American chemical engineer, amateur astronomer and discoverer of minor planets and variable stars.
Cooney, who is affiliated with the Highland Road Park Observatory, is credited by the Minor Planet Center with the discovered of 47 numbered minor planets during 1998–2005, such as his lowest numbered identification 11739 Baton Rouge, a Hildian asteroid named after the city of Baton Rouge where the discovering observatory is located.
Many of his minor planet discoveries he made in collaboration with astronomers Matthew Collier, Patrick M. Motl, Susannah Lazar, Katrina Wefel, Terry Martin, Merrill Hess, Ethan Kandler, Meredith Howard, and most recently with John Gross.
Cooney is also credited with discovering more than 50 variable stars.

List of discovered minor planets

11739 Baton RougeSeptember 25, 1998
15072 LandoltJanuary 25, 1999
16107 ChanmugamNovember 27, 1999
20430 Stout January 10, 1999
43083 FrankconradNovember 19, 1999
September 27, 1998
47045 SeandanielNovember 29, 1998
November 24, 1998
49350 KatheynixNovember 27, 1998
December 30, 1998
53256 SinitiereMarch 16, 1999
March 16, 1999
January 10, 1999
November 8, 1999
June 5, 1999
December 3, 1999
November 3, 1999
74439 BrendenFebruary 6, 1999
December 3, 1999