Yatsugatake South Base Observatory

Yatsugatake South Base Observatory is a Japanese astronomical observatory in Hokuto, Yamanashi, prized by observers for its relative proximity to the Greater Tokyo Area.

About Yatsugatake South Base Observatory

Registered with the Minor Planet Center under observatory code 896, the site has been the source of numerous asteroid discoveries thanks to its accessibility from Tokyo. Astronomer Yoshio Kushida conducted observational research here into phenomena potentially linked to earthquakes.

History

The observatory's legacy is written into the sky itself: the inner main-belt asteroid 4033 Yatsugatake, discovered in 1986 by Japanese astronomers Masaru Inoue and Osamu Muramatsu, was named after the Yatsugatake Mountains where this observatory and the nearby Kobuchizawa Observatory (code 386) are located. The Minor Planet Center published the official naming citation on 20 May 1989.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits in the Yatsugatake Mountains area of Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, in Japan's Asia region, within reach of the Greater Tokyo Area.

Visiting Yatsugatake South Base Observatory

Detailed public visiting information is not confirmed for this site. Check the official Hokuto city or Yamanashi Prefecture tourism resources, or a search engine, before planning a visit.

See your named star from here

An observatory with a track record of finding new objects in the sky is a fitting place to seek out a star of your own. Name a star or browse the catalogue to see what's already been named.