is a Japanese amateur

astronomer An astronomer is a scientist in the field of astronomy who focuses on a specific question or field outside the scope of Earth. Astronomers observe astronomical objects, such as stars, planets, natural satellite, moons, comets and galaxy, galax ...

and a

discoverer of minor planets This is a list of minor-planet discoverers credited by the Minor Planet Center with the discovery of one or several minor planets (such as near-Earth and main-belt asteroids, Jupiter trojans and distant objects). , the discovery of 612,011 num ...

and

comet A comet is an icy, small Solar System body that warms and begins to release gases when passing close to the Sun, a process called outgassing. This produces an extended, gravitationally unbound atmosphere or Coma (cometary), coma surrounding ...

s. He is credited by the

Minor Planet Center The Minor Planet Center (MPC) is the official body for observing and reporting on minor planets under the auspices of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Founded in 1947, it operates at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Funct ...

with the discovery of 45

minor planet According to the International Astronomical Union (IAU), a minor planet is an astronomical object in direct orbit around the Sun that is exclusively classified as neither a planet nor a comet. Before 2006, the IAU officially used the term ''minor ...

s during 1988–1991, all in collaboration with astronomer Hiroshi Mori. On 5 January 1991, he has also discovered Comet Arai, .British Astronomical Association (2008). British Astronomical Association circular. The main-belt asteroid 21082 Araimasaru, discovered by

Tsutomu Hioki This is a list of minor-planet discoverers credited by the Minor Planet Center with the discovery of one or several minor planets (such as near-Earth and main-belt asteroids, Jupiter trojans and distant objects). , the discovery of 612,011 num ...

and Shuji Hayakawa at Okutama in 1991, was named in his honor. Naming citation was published on 6 January 2003 ().

List of discovered minor planets

References

External links

Yorii Observatory, instruments and discoveries

IAUC 5157, 7 January 1991

IAUC 5170, 18 January 1991 1952 births Discoverers of asteroids * 20th-century Japanese astronomers Living people Scientists from Saitama Prefecture {{japan-astronomer-stub