Kitami Observatory

Kitami Observatory sits inside the Kitami-Abashiri Region Cultural Centre in eastern Hokkaidō, Japan, and has quietly become one of the most prolific asteroid-hunting sites in the country.

About Kitami Observatory

Kitami Observatory carries the official Minor Planet Center observatory code 400. Rather than being built around a single flagship instrument, it earned its reputation through the dedication of the amateur astronomers who worked there.

History

Amateur astronomers Atsushi Takahashi and Kazuro Watanabe used the observatory to search for asteroids, and by 2012 their work at Kitami had produced 680 confirmed discoveries. Watanabe went on to collaborate with fellow observer Kin Endate, and together the pair are credited with discovering 614 asteroids between 1987 and 2009, with much of that output concentrated in the 1990s and 2000s.

Telescopes & research

Kitami's asteroid-survey work places it among the more productive minor-planet discovery sites of its era, a track record built largely by patient amateur observers scanning the sky night after night rather than by a single large research telescope.

Location & getting there

The observatory is located in eastern Hokkaidō, Japan's northernmost main island, known for dark, clear winter skies away from major city lights. Because it operates from within a cultural centre, visitors should check current access arrangements locally before planning a trip.

Visiting Kitami Observatory

Specific public opening hours are not widely documented, so anyone hoping to visit should check with the Kitami-Abashiri Region Cultural Centre directly, or search for current details online, before travelling.

See your named star from here

Once you've named a star through Star Register, its exact coordinates can be pointed to from almost anywhere with a telescope, including a dark-sky site like Kitami. Browse the full star catalogue to find your star's position before your next stargazing trip.