From 2004 to 2006 Hale was host of a weekly radio program, The Other Side of the Sky (the precursor to Earthrise Radio). On March 11, 2006, Hale was interviewed on the NMSR's Science Watch radio show in an episode called "An Hour-long visit with Dr. Alan Hale, co-discoverer of the Hale–Bopp Comet!" Scientific skepticism advocacy As a scientific skeptic, Hale is a periodic contributor to Skeptical Inquirer magazine. One such article, titled "An Astronomer’s Personal Statement on UFOs", appeared in the March/April 1997 edition. In the article Hale stated: After an analysis of the claims of extraterrestrial visitation with regards to these three principles, Hale concluded: Atheist activism Hale is an atheist and member of the honorary board of the online group Internet Infidels which has the mission of using the Internet to promote a view that supernatural forces or entities do not exist. Hale has made his position on religion clear: Awards and honors In 1980 Alan Hale was awarded the Navy League of the United States prize in Applied Physics. In 1991, years prior to his discovery of Hale–Bopp, the IAU named an asteroid, 4151 Alanhale, in Hale's honor in recognition of his numerous comet observations, stating that: Select bibliography Books Everybody's Comet: A Layman's Guide to Hale–Bopp Great Balls of Ice: A Century of Comets the comet man (a memoir) e-book Scientific journals The Astronomical Journal: Dissertation published in January 1994 The International Comet Quarterly: Popular publications From August 2002 to January 2003, Hale wrote a weekly newspaper column for the Space Frontier Foundation entitled "In Our Skies," which has been archived online. He also wrote a monthly column entitled "Hale to the Stars." Hale currently contributes to the Alamogordo Daily News with his "In Our Skies" column, covering a variety of astronomical and spaceflight topics. Other publications Hale has contributed to include Astronomy, Skeptical Inquirer, Free Inquiry and the McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology. Professional societies American Astronomical Society Sigma Pi Sigma References External links Comet Hale–Bopp Home Page at JPL Comet Hale–Bopp Timeline – 1997 Alan Hale's Earthrise Institute Date of birth missing (living people) 1958 births Living people Scientists from New Mexico People from Otero County, New Mexico New Mexico State University alumni United States Naval Academy alumni People from Alamogordo, New Mexico People from Tachikawa Critics of creationism Critics of religions Space advocates 20th-century atheists 21st-century atheists Bendix Corporation people Discoverers