is a Japanese
amateur astronomer and prolific discoverer of
minor planets.
He was born in
Hokkaidō
is Japan's second largest island and comprises the largest and northernmost prefecture, making up its own region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō from Honshu; the two islands are connected by the undersea railway Seikan Tunnel.
The la ...
, Japan and is a member of the ''Astronomical Society of Japan'' as well as of the ''Oriental Astronomical Association''.
Through publications and the direction of junior associates, this
asteroid
An asteroid is a minor planet of the inner Solar System. Sizes and shapes of asteroids vary significantly, ranging from 1-meter rocks to a dwarf planet almost 1000 km in diameter; they are rocky, metallic or icy bodies with no atmosphere.
...
hunter has been responsible for the discovery of nearly 700 asteroids.
He is the author or the co-author of the Japanese publications ''Asteroid Hunter'' (小惑星ハンター), ''Celestial Body Photography Manual'' (天体写真マニュアル), ''The Celestial Sky of Our Dreams'' (僕らの夢の星空), as well as others. He also is a frequent contributor to the Japanese periodical ''Monthly Astronomical Guide'' (月刊天文ガイド).
The minor planet
4155 Watanabe has been named in his honor.
Discoveries
Names of some asteroids
* Mamiya (間宮, 12127) – Named after the famous
Edo-period detective,
Mamiya Rinzō.
* Tentaikojo (天体工場, 12713) – Named after the museum of that name in
Sapporo.
List of discovered asteroids
Kazuro Watanabe 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.
Function
...
with the discovery of 671
minor planets made between 1987 and 2000.
Some of his discoveries include (in alphabetical order) the minor planets
4263 Abashiri (Florian asteroid),
4585 Ainonai,
46610 Bésixdouze,
5331 Erimomisaki,
3915 Fukushima,
5474 Gingasen (Vestian binary),
9971 Ishihara,
11949 Kagayayutaka
11949 Kagayayutaka, provisional designation ', is a stony background asteroid from the outer region of the asteroid belt, approximately in diameter. It was discovered on 19 September 1993, by Japanese amateur astronomers Kin Endate and Kazuro Wat ...
,
5481 Kiuchi,
6498 Ko (slow rotator),
6500 Kodaira (a Mars-crosser),
6980 Kyusakamoto
6980 Kyusakamoto, provisional designation , is a stony Koronis asteroid from the outer region of the asteroid belt, approximately 9 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered by Japanese astronomers Kin Endate and Kazuro Watanabe at Kitami Observ ...
(Koronian asteroid),
4607 Seilandfarm
4607 Seilandfarm, provisional designation , is a rare-type binary asteroid from the inner regions of the asteroid belt, approximately 7 kilometers in diameter.
It was discovered on 25 November 1987, by Japanese amateur astronomers Kin Endate and ...
(rare-type binary),
5357 Sekiguchi
5357 Sekiguchi ( ''prov. designation'': ) is an Eos asteroid from the outer region of the asteroid belt, approximately in diameter. It was discovered on 2 March 1992, by Japanese amateur astronomers Tetsuya Fujii and Kazuro Watanabe at the Ki ...
and
5692 Shirao
5692 Shirao, provisional designation , is a stony Eunomia asteroid from the middle region of the asteroid belt, approximately 9 kilometers in diameter. It was discovered on 23 March 1992, by Japanese amateur astronomers Kin Endate and Kazuro Wat ...
.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watanabe, Kazuro
1955 births
Discoverers of asteroids
*
20th-century Japanese astronomers
Living people