Tom Van Flandern

Tom Charles Van Flandern (born Cleveland, Ohio, 1940) is an American astronomer who specialized in celestial mechanics. He received a PhD from Yale University and worked at the U.S. Naval Observatory for 20 years. He is married to Barbara Ann Weber and is the father of four children.

Van Flandern is best known for his contention that certain features on the surface of Mars are artificial sculptures of "faces" created by extraterrestrial beings. In addition, he advocates the replacement of modern theories of physics with his own set of ideas, which he calls "deep reality physics", the main feature of which is his belief in the possibility of faster-than-light travel and limitless free energy. His 1993, 1999 book [Tom Van Flandern, "Dark Matter, Missing Planets and New Comets: Paradoxes Resolved, Origins Illuminated", North Atlantic Books, (Berkeley, CA 1993 and 1999). North Atlantic Books is "a publisher of alternative health, martial arts, and spiritual titles", whose self-proclaimed mission is "to affect planetary consciousness, nurture spiritual and ecological disciplines, disseminate ancient wisdom, and put forth ways to transmute cultural dissonance and violence into service".] also challenges prevailing notions regarding dark matter and solar system formation. He maintains a personal web page devoted to these topics. His views have not found acceptance within the mainstream scientific community.

References

External links

* [http://metaresearch.org/home/about%20meta%20research/vanflandern.asp Biography at Meta Research site]
* [http://archive.salon.com/people/feature/2000/07/06/einstein/index.html Salon story about relativity dissidents including Van Flandern]