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Notes

20 (Saturday) - 26 (Friday) March 2004


I stayed at Kiso Observatory, University of Tokyo, for the open use observations. Tada Naoki-kun, Nishibata Kazunori-kun, Kuno Mitsuteru-kun, and Tatsumi Hikaru-san helped the observations (pic1, pic2). High school students who were preparing their presentation at the Junior session of the Meeting of the Astronomical Society of Japan stayed at the observatory (pic).

3 March 2004 (Wednesday)


I visited Chiben Wakayama Elementary School.

17 (Tuesday) - 20 (Friday) February 2004


I gave a lecture of `astronomy' at Nara University of Education.


Nara University of Education has an astronomical observatory dome, and 30-cm reflector and 10-cm refractor (aperture of 10.2 cm, focal length of 150 cm) are inside. The observatory has not been used for a while. The 30-cm telescope mirrors need to be replaced. The 10-cm telescope can be used somehow, and at around 16:30 we tried solar image projection and found some sunspots; we achieved the astronomical first-again light. Though the sidereal motor was out of order, it seemed to work again by a simple repair. After the twilight, we enjoyed Venus with a semi-circular image and Saturn with a pretty ring and a satellite, Titan.

3 February 2004 (Tuesday)


I attended Symposium of Educational Training in Wakayama Prefecture[J] (hosted by Wakayama Prefectural Educational Training Center and Center for Educational Research and Training[J], Faculty of Education, Wakayama University). Astronomy Education Project hosted a session of astronomy and science education.


The session consisted of planetarium demonstration and five poster presentations; utilizing images of PAONET (including sunset images taken at Kawabe Cosmic Park), development of movie material using digital camera, taking astronomical pictures using cell camera (Takenaka-kun in explaining), proposal of new meteorological education using mini-AMEDAS network set up at schools (Soga-san in explaining), and proposal of new anti-disaster education using mini-seismometer network set up at schools ( due to the crowd, the seismometer was not on this picture).

2 February 2004 (Monday)


I proposed about astronomy outreach activity at Meeting on Partnership between Wakayama University and Kishiwada City.

24 January 2004 (Saturday)


I attended Symposium on Information Technology in Education held at Wakayama Prefecture Library. Nishibata-kun reported his development of movie material in astronomy education, and I talked as a panelist.

20 (Tuesday) - 23 (Friday) January 2004


I attended Subaru User's Meeting (from 20 to 21) and Meeting on Future Plan of Optical Infrared Astronomy in Japan (from 22 to 23) held at National Astronomical Observatory, Mitaka, Japan.

13 January 2004 (Tuesday)


The 69th Wakaten Meeting was held at Crea. Participants were Yaji, Kamitamari, and Furuya (Kawabe Cosmic Park), Toyomasu (Misato Obs), Okyudo (Crea), Fujita (Dept of Physics, Faculty of Education), Tada, Nishibata, and Tomita (Astronomy Seminar group of Faculty of Education).


Fujita-san introduced his lecture on museum, and the exhibition at Open Campus on 8 and 9 November. After that, we discussed about various issues about science museum.
Next meeting will be held on 21 and 23 February.

6 (Tuesday) - 8 (Thursday) January 2004


I attended a symposium, Origin, From the Big Bang to Life, held at Yukawa Institute of Theoretical Physics, Kyoto University.

24 December 2003 (Wednesday)


I visited National Institute of Science and Technology Policy, and discussed with institute staff about public outreach of science.

23 December 2003 (Tuesday)


I enjoyed Star Light Concert held at Madoka Hall[J] Planetarium Room, Kishiwada. After the concert, I discussed how to use the planetarium with Kishiwada City officers.

20 December 2003 (Saturday)


I returned materials on Hatanaka Takeo-san that Shigu Senior High School and Shigu City Library had kindly borrowed to us.

14 December 2003 (Sunday)


I gave a talk of `Evolution of Galaxies' at Nishi Harima Astronomical Observatory. In the morning, I saw beautiful sea of clouds. The talk was made in the building with 60-cm dome, and 2-m dome was already built (it will be opened in next year).

12 December 2003 (Friday)


Kishu Institute annual exhibition finished successfully. About 90 people visited us. In the exhibition hall, at the reception desk helped by students.

10 December 2003 (Wednesday)


I attended 2003 Symposium of Crea, `The day we will arrive at an asteroid, a challenge of the mission Hayabusa' by Yano Hajime-san ( Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA), and `Space development with dream and craftsman spirit' by Aoki Toyohiko-san (SOHLA[J]).

8 December 2003 (Monday)


The first day of the second week of the Exhibition at the Kishu Institute. NHK Osaka station introduced our exhibition.


We had a talk session (16:30-18:00), and about 20 people took part in the session (pic1, pic2, pic3, pic4, pic5).

5 December 2003 (Friday)


The planetarium, NEX, a star projector and a 4-m air dome, that was developed by Goto Optical Manufacturing and Taiyo Kogyo Corporation has at last arrived. We demonstrated it at Center for Educational Research and Training (pic1, pic2, pic3).


The first week of the exhibition of Kishu Institute was successful. In the exhibition room, at the register desk (astronomy seminar students).

4 December 2003 (Thursday)


I attended the Symposium on Collaboration with Local Community on Education.

2 December 2003 (Tuesday)


The 2nd day of the Annual Exhibition, `Local messenger about stars'. NHK Wakayama division reporters visited us and introduced the exhibition in the local evening news of NHK.

1 December 2003 (Monday)


From today, we have the Annual Exhibition, `Local messengers about stars' at Kishu Institute of Economic and Cultural History[J] ( see info here[J]). We made the final check; making captions and arranging the lighting). We thank Kamitamari-san of Kawabe Cosmic Park for all-day working.


TV Wakayama[J] (WTV), and Wakayama Shimpo reporters visited our exhibition.

29 November 2003 (Saturday)


I attended a Kinki regional meeting of Society for Teaching and Popularization of Astronomy [J] held at Zenbe Land[J].

28 November 2003 (Friday)


Dr. Doi Mamoru (Institute of Astronomy, University of Tokyo, and chair of the steering committee Group of Optical Infrared Astronomers[J]). We discussed with Okyudo-san about developing the base of university for astronomy.

26 November 2003 (Wednesday)


Professor Hiraga Shozo of Nara University of Education (a staff on Geology) visited my office with Hosokawa Megumi-san (a junior student). We discussed future collaboration on education and research.

25 November 2003 (Tuesday)


We prepared for the Annual Exhibition of Kishu Institute of Economic and Cultural History. Kamitamari-san and Furuya-san of Kawabe Cosmic Park brought materials about Komaki-san and Takagi-san. Nishibata-kun and Tada-kun are working for the sign board (work on 28th). Kuno-kun, Takenaka-kun, and Tatsumi-san are working for map of name of land having `star' (Kuno-kun working on 28th). Kishu Intitute staff and students kindly helped us (work on 28th).

24 November 2003 (Monday)


LIVE! ECLIPSE 2003 was web-casted from the Antarctic. Though it was cloudy, we enjoyed a mystic scenery that the shadow came and moved away above us. Ten students have worked for the Antarctic web contents; Kuno Mitsuteru, Sasaki Junko, Takenaka Atsushi, Tatsumi Hikaru, Nakamura Kazuto, Yamamoto Mayumi, Shibahara Yuka, Yamaguchi Takuya, Kawasaki Yukiko (Wakayama University), and Hosokawa Megumi (Nara University of Education). Tyler Poling (a student from Arizona State University, USA) and Terry Healy (a student at Curtin University of Technology, student guild president) helped us translate in English.

20 November 2003 (Thursday)


I visited Shigu Senior High School[J] and Shingu City Library[J] with Yaji Kentaro-san of Kawabe Cosmic Park.

18 November 2003 (Tuesday)


I attended Symposium on Education for Independent Research at University, hosted by Student Center for Independent Research in the Science[J], Wakayama University.

11 November 2003 (Tuesday)


We discussed about Symposium of Educational Training in Wakayama Prefecture (hosted by Wakayama Prefectural Educational Training Center and Center for Educational Research and Training[J], Faculty of Education, Wakayama University).

9 November 2003 (Sunday)


Today was the second day of the Open Class for Experimental Study. The planetarium was very popular. Unfortunately, it was cloudy, so we could not show the solar image today. In total of two days, about 200 people came to see planetarium and picture presentation, and about 40 people visited the Astronomical Observatory dome. Thanks to hard-working students, number of visitors was about 17 times of that last year (after finishing the exhibition, in front of the dome).


A student summit meeting was held, hosted by elpic, a project of student cultural exchange between Wakayama University and Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Western Australia. The student team of Antarctic contents of LIVE! ECLIPSE 2003 joined the meeting and asked help to make English page, and future collaboration (pic 1, pic 2, pic 3).

8 November 2003 (Saturday)


Today was the first day of two-day Open Class for Experimental Study[J] hosted by Student Center for Independent Research in the Science (Crea) [J]. We presented an exhibition of `Journey to Stars from Wakayama', presenting mini planetarium, pictures, and our Astronomical Observatory of Faculty of Education.


The planetarium, NEX, that was developed by Goto Optical Manufacturing and Taiyo Kogyo Corporation was rent for this exhibition. It consists of star projector and 4-m air dome. By pushing body from side space, we entered into the dome. The capacity was about 20 people. The planetarium was so popular, and we had to have `thank-you' tag on the dome. My children came to the exhibition (like this). Before entering the dome, we explained how to enter:-). We used a large TV display for picture presentation. Before the presentation, we had to play with them. We used images archived by Public Astronomical Observatory Network(PAONET)[J] for the picture presentation. We also showed pictures taken at our Observatory. At the lobby of the exhibition site, there are plasma displays. On one of them, we are showing beautiful images by PAONET (an example). We were lucky that we could see the sun from our Observatory dome. The solar image was projected using the 60-cm reflector. The large `naked-eye' sun spots were not on the image due to the solar rotation, and it was typical for the calm phase. Nevertheless, we saw some small sun spots and we could show granule. On the roof of the Faculty building, we also showed the whole solar image using 10.5-cm refractor.

7 November 2003 (Friday)


Three students of Science Club of Toin Senior High School visited our Astronomical Observatory of Wakayama University. We had eye-observation and basic instruction of the Moon to be familiar with the Moon. We would join the Moon observation project conducted by Seikei Senior High School and other schools in Tokyo.

6 November 2003 (Thursday)


I attended banquet of memorial symposium on promotion of partnership between Wakayama University and Kishiwada City held at Namikiri Hall, Kishiwada City. I discussed about partnership with people of Kishiwada City Office and Wakayama University.

4 November 2003 (Tuesday)


The 67th Wakaten Meeting was held at Kishu Research Institute. Participants were Yaji and Kamitamari (Kawabe Cosmic Park), Toyomasu (Misato Obs), Geshiro (Oishi-Kogen Obs), Okyudo (Crea), Tada, Nishibata, Kuno, Takenaka, Tatsumi, and Tomita (Astronomy Seminar group of Faculty of Education).


We arranged the Annual Exhibition of Kishu Research Institute. Title and speaker of lecture were fixed: `Star-related name of place in Wakayama, in Japan' by Kuno-kun and Tatsumi-san (15 min), and `Local messengers about stars' by Yaji-san and Kamitamari-san (45 min). Panel arrangement was also discussed.


Tomita introduced an exhibition of `Journey to Stars from Wakayama' in Open Class for Experimental Study that would be held on 8 and 9 November at Wakayama University. Yaji-san reported about the big sunspot appeared recently. Toyomasu-san showed aurora video images taken by Kiruna Camera set up at Kiruna, Sweden by Misato Observatory. We had a good news that Toyomasu-san won a prize of satellite design competition.


Next meeting will be held on 8 December.

28 October 2003 (Tuesday)


The Workshop of Student Center for Independent Research in the Science (Crea) [J], Wakayama University has been opened. I took a training course with my students, Nishibata-kun, Tada-kun, Kuno-kun, and Takenaka-kun for TIG (tungsten inert gas) welder and milling machine. We will try various works related to astronomy observations and science education.

14 October 2003 (Monday)


The 66th Wakaten Meeting was held at 7th Seminar Room, Faculty of Education, Wakayama University. Participants were Yaji, Kamitamari, and Furuya (Kawabe Cosmic Park), Toyomasu and Yodomaru (Misato Obs), Geshiro (Oishi-Kogen Obs), Nishihama (Faculty of Systems Engineering), Tada, Nishibata, Kuno, Tatsumi, and Tomita (Astronomy Seminar group of Faculty of Education).


We discussed about the Annual Exhibition of Kishu Research Institute. Nishihama-san explained about the new web site of Wakaten[J].


Next meeting will be held on 4 November.

9 October 2003 (Thursday)


I had a meeting on contents of LIVE! ECLIPSE 2003 at Wakayama University. Astronomy seminar students of Wakayama University and Hosokawa Megumi-san of Nara University of Education will write contents on the Antarctic. Iwashiro Kuninori-san of science NODE[J] and Hiruta Sunao-san of Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts[J] kindly came to Wakayama, and the meeting went well under a chair of Okyudo Masami-san. Professor Fujinaga Hiroshi of Faculty of Education proposed English translation of the contents and student interchange with Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia.

30 September (Tuesday) - 1 October (Wednesday) 2003


I attended PAONET (Public Astronomical Observatory NETwork) user's meeting held at National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Tokyo. Wakayama University, through Student Center for Independent Research in the Science, was officially registered as a new member of the PAO (member number is 174). We will send our images taken at Observatory of Faculty of Education to nationwide facilities, receive high quality images taken at various sites, and be able to show them to all the Wakayama University people. Before the PAONET meeting, I attended PAOFITS meeting. I discussed about a plan for Cepheid observations.

24 (Wednesday) - 26 (Friday) September 2003


I gave lecture of Galactic Astronomy at Hiroshima University. The students were about 30 people of Department of Physics, Faculty of Science.

18 (Thursday) - 22 (Monday) September 2003


I attended Study in Japan Fair held in Korea as a representative of Wakayama University with Nakai Tatsuo-san and Minakata Nobuyuki-san.


On 19, we had presentation in Pusan, and explained in detail to 13 people. Ms. Jeong Eun-young kindly helped us for translation. (title, explaining: pic 1, pic 2)


On 21, we had presentation in Seoul, and explained in detail to 51 people. Ms. Yom Joo-young kindly helped us for translation. (title, explaining: pic 1, pic 2, pic 3, pic 4)

10 September 2003 (Wednesday)


We had the Moon watching party at the Observatory at the top of the faculty building. Takarako-san, a singer song writer, kindly came and presented nice music with the Moon back. However, the weather was so bad, we could not enjoy watching Moon and Mars. For further information, please jump to Star Watching Party page (in Japanese).

8 September 2003 (Monday)


The 65th Wakaten Meeting was held at Kishu Research Institute. Participants were Yaji, Kamitamari, and Furuya (Kawabe Cosmic Park), Toyomasu (Misato Obs), Geshiro (Oishi-Kogen Obs), Nishihama (Faculty of Systems Engineering), Okyudo (Crea), Tada, Nishibata, Kuno, Tatsumi, and Tomita (Astronomy Seminar group of Faculty of Education). Iwami-san of Kishu Research Institute joined our discussion.


Tomita presented a plan for the Annual Exhibition of Kishu Research Institute. The Wakaten member will conduct the exhibition and we discussed schedule and work allocation. Yaji-san introduced the Astronomy Class at Kawabe Cosmic Park on 14 September by Dr. Taniguchi Yoshiaki about the galaxy evolution.


Next meeting will be held on 14 October.

1 September 2003 (Monday)


About 20 people of students and teachers of Toin Senior High School visited our Astronomical Observatory on the top of the faculty building. Though the weather was not so good, they enjoyed crescent and Mars through the 60-cm reflector (Mr. Shimizu watching Mars). Mr. Sowa explained about Mars to students.

1 September 2003 (Monday)


Tatsumi Hikaru-san and Sasaki Junko-san go training at nursing care homes. Tatsumi-san is working at Kisei-Kai; Ue Yasuhiko-san showed me around. Sasaki-san is working at Kimisato-En; Yakawa Nobukiyo-san showed me around.

25 (Monday) - 28 (Thursday) August 2003


I gave lecture of Galactic Astronomy at Osaka Kyoiku University. The lecture was held at Fukue Jun-san's office. Regardless of the registration of the class, many students joined my class including from senior undergraduate to school lecturer. Students invited me to the party at night on 25, and we enjoyed watching Mars on 27 using the 51-cm reflector.

21 (Thursday) - 22 (Friday) August 2003


The Symposium on Optical and Infrared Future Plan was held at National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. I worked as an organizing committee. Electronic proceedings of the symposium is open.

18 August 2003 (Monday)


We are planning to buy a portable planetarium NEX and 4-m air dome developed by Goto Optical Manufacturing. Mr. Matsushita Hirokazu and Ms. Morimoto Hideyo of Taiyo Kogyo Corporation kindly visited us and showed the products in the workshop room of Center for Educational Research and Training, Wakayama University.


Set the fan, the dome is expanding, and the room is filled with the dome. Inside the dome is like this, and this can be used for various purposes as an all-sky screen.

4 (Monday) - 7 (Thursday) August 2003


I gave lecture of Astronomy Experiment at Nara University of Education. Students drew various diagrams to discuss distance, age, and spatial distribution. We also observed solar images using a 6-cm refractor (pic) I have enjoyed deer last semester, but this time I did not see any deer. Students said they had to go back to the deer house...

2 August 2003 (Saturday)


I gave the Science Partnership Program class at Kishiwada Senior High School. The theme was Classification of the Stars, through making the color-magnitude diagrams of star clusters. Lecture was given from 13:00 to 15:00, making the diagrams using JIP (an image-processing software developed by PAOFITS group) and Excel from 15:00 to 19:00, and we enjoyed star watching and demonstrated image acquisition using the CCD camera. We had this class with Terado Shin-san of Kishiwada Senior High School, graduate students Nishibata Kazunori-kun and Tada Naoki-kun, and graduates Ishikawa Kohei-kun and Ohta Kenji-kun (they are junior high school teachers). We also had a useful discussion with principal Mr. Kodama Michihito.

1 August 2003 (Friday)


I joined Wakayama University Open Campus with Physics Group. With Dr. Gu, we introduced astronomy and physics seminars. We also showed the astronomical observatory on the top of the building. Takenaka-kun and Nakamura-kun of the astronomy seminar helped us (pic).

29 July 2003 (Tuesday)


I visited Chiben Gakuen Wakayama Elementary School. I discussed with Hattori Yasuo-san for the Astronomy Education Project of Center for Educational Research and Training of Wakayama University. He showed me around the school including the 40-cm telescope. I also discussed with the principal, Mr. Yoshida Norihiko.

23 July 2003 (Wednesday)


I visited Kishiwada Senior High School. I tested connection of the CCD camera ST-7 to the 31-cm telescope.

14 July 2003 (Monday)


The 64th Wakaten Meeting was held at 7th Seminar Room, Faculty of Education, Wakayama University. Participants were Kojima, Kamitamari, and Furuya (Kawabe Cosmic Park), Koshiyama (Osaka University of Education), Nishihama (Faculty of Systems Engineering), Tada, Nishibata, Tatsumi, and Tomita (Astronomy Seminar group of Faculty of Education).


Kojima-san talked about observational studies of planets. For Jupiter, relation between vanishing of the NTP (north temperate band) and Jupiter atmosphere, and vanishing and trigger of re-appearing of the band were explained. For Mars, recent transformation of surface albedo pattern, `the ring of angel' of the south polar cap, plan for Kawabe Cosmic Park Friend activities, place and forecast of the yellow sand storms, and structure of the polar cap were explained. Tomita reported about cooperation with group of education for physically-challenged children using the mini-planetarium, the PAONET meeting on 30 June, and web site of RIKA (science) network for school educators.


Next meeting will be held on 8 September.

6 July 2003 (Sunday)


Students of junior participated in the Summer Festival of Wakayama University. They presented slide show entitled the Tanabata Star Festival and the Milky Way (pic).

30 June 2003 (Monday)


I attended PAONET meeting held at National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. Mitaka, Tokyo.

29 June 2003 (Sunday)


I attended PAOFITS meeting held at National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, Mitaka, Tokyo.

28 June 2003 (Saturday)


I attended the 2nd JST IT Science, Technology, and Education Symposium held at Tokyo International Exchange Center.

27 June 2003 (Friday)


I visited Kishiwada Senior High School, Kishiwada, Osaka, and discussed with Terado Shin-san of earth sciences teacher for collaboration between high school and university. I discussed with Yaji-san of Kawabe Cosmic Park, six of the astronomy club, and graduate students Nishibata-kun and Tada-kun. We tested attachment of CCD camera of ST-7 to the 31-cm telescope on the top of the building, and presentation in the LAN room.

23 June 2003 (Monday)


I visited Umeda Norio-san of Attached Junior High School and Kishi Toshihide-san of Attached Elementary School of Faculty of Education, Wakayama University. We discussed about the Astronomy Project which would start at Center for Educational Research and Training of Wakayama University.

16 June 2003 (Monday)


The 63rd Wakaten Meeting was held at 7th Seminar Room, Faculty of Education, Wakayama University. Participants are Yaji, Kamitamari, Furuya, and Kojima (Kawabe Cosmic Park), Okyudo and Toyomasu (Misato Obs), Koshiyama (Osaka University of Education), Nishihama (Faculty of Systems Engineering), Nishibata and Tomita (Astronomy Seminar group of Faculty of Education).


Tomita explained about the Astronomy Education Project at Center for Educational Research and Training of Wakayama University and other projects at Astronomy Education Group. Toyomasu-san advertised about the special class of grinding a telescope mirror which would be held at Misato Observatory this summer. Okyudo-san talked his opinion about relationship between local public observatory and prefecture office. Yaji-san reported about the Kinki branch meeting of Society for Teaching and Popularization of Astronomy held at Kyoto University of Education (see report on 7 June below), and the earth sciences education sessions of Japan Earth and Planetary Science Joint Meeting 2003 (see report on 26 May below). Kojima-san reported recent topic on mars observations. Toyomasu-san showed Mars video images and reported about mirror-grinding work at Tasaka-san's home.


Next meeting will be held on 14 July.

7 June 2003 (Saturday)


I attended the Kinki branch meeting of Society for Teaching and Popularization of Astronomy held at Kyoto University of Education, Kyoto. The main topic was the current issues on the planetariums.

6 June 2003 (Friday)


I visited Kishiwada Senior High School, Kishiwada, Osaka, and discussed with Terado Shin-san of earth sciences teacher for collaboration between high school and university; especially support for high school astronomy club. I also met three members of the astronomy club. They showed me to the 31-cm telescope dome attached at the top of the high school building. I also discussed with Nishimura Takahiko-san, the vice principal of Kishiwada Senior High School. Speaking of the collaboration between high school and university, we also discuss with Toin Senior School, Wakayama.

26 May 2003 (Monday)


I attended the special session `Earth Science Education, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow' and a regular session `Earth Science Education' of Japan Earth and Planetary Science Joint Meeting 2003, held at Makuhari Messe, Chiba. I gave my talk of `Diversified Approach in Astronomical Education 6. Collaboration between Wakayama University and Local Public Observatories (J035-018) by Tomita Akihiko, Okyudo Masami, Yaji Kentaro, and Soga Masato'.

19 May 2003 (Monday)


The 62nd Wakaten Meeting was held at 7th Seminar Room, Faculty of Education, Wakayama University. Participants are Yaji and Kamitamari (Kawabe Cosmic Park), Toyomasu (Misato Obs), Geshiro (Oishi-Kogen Obs), Nishihama (Faculty of Systems Engineering), Nishibata, Tada, and Tomita (Astronomy Seminar group of Faculty of Education).


Tomita reported PAONET (Public Astronomical Observatory Network) staff meeting and a new project of `Astronomy Education' at Center for Educational Research and Training, Wakayama University.


Yaji-san reported about his cancellation of visiting Korea, and showed us some Korea astronomy books. He explained present status about the PAONET, and some participants claimed that we should have a new aim for the future PAONET. He also reported about his continuous investigation on Hatanaka-san. He presented about educational use of FITS solar images at Kishiwada Senior High School, and lecture that would be made at Koyo Senior High School.


Toyomasu-san reported his lecture on lens antenna made at Kansai Research Establishment, Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute. He also presented his images of transit of Mercury on 7 May 2003, and `Wakayama Project' of preserving an old local astronomy building.


Next meeting will be held on 16 June at 7th Seminar Room.

11 (Sunday) - 12 (Monday) May 2003


I joined staff meeting of Public Astronomical Observatory Network (PAONET) held at National Astronomical Observatory, Mitaka, Tokyo, from Wakayama University via internet.

1 (Thursday) - 6 (Tuesday) May 2003


I stayed at Kiso Observatory, Nagano, Japan, for the open use observation, Surface Photometery of Nearby Dwarf Irregular Galaxies.


On the way to the observatory, we met a big traffic accident on the route 19 (traffic jam), and we had to sit inside the cat for four hours. We had little time for preparation of the first-night observation, and Kawamoto Tsukasa-san of Hokkaido University kindly helped us kick off the observation. We had an excellent night on 3 May and obtained good data.


May is the most pleasant season at Kiso Observatory (105cm Schmidt dome in the morning, Mount Ontake-san in the morning light). The room in the observatory has changed like a cottage pic. Recently Kiso Observatory invites many high school students for the special classes, so the observatory staff has changed the rooms suitable for them.


I saw three cats in the observatory (pic1, pic2). Sometimes they were in high spirits, and suddenly climbed up to the tree. But they could not get down easily and mewed. They somehow got down (pic1, pic2, pic3, pic4, pic5).


This time, Nishibata Kazumari-kun (pic) and Tada Naoki-kun (pic) who are graduate students of Wakayama University joined the observations. Aoki Tsutomu-san of Kiso Observatory was very busy to operate the MAGNUM telescope at Halea Kala, Maui, Hawaii, USA. The operation room is Aoki-san's laboratory (left: Aoki-san checking the telescope and dome status; right: 10 micron sky monitor).

21 April 2003 (Monday)


I visited attached Junior High School of Faculty of Education, Wakayama University. Ishikawa-kun was working hard. I met principal, vice-principal, and head teacher, and discussed them about collaboration between school and astronomy education group of university.

14 April 2003 (Monday)


The 61st Wakaten Meeting was held at Kishu Research Institute (Kishu is the old name of Wakayama area). Participants are Yaji, Kamitamari, and Furuya (Kawabe Cosmic Park), Okyudo, Toyomasu, and Ozawa (Misato Obs), Geshiro (Oishi-Kogen Obs), Nishihama (Faculty of Systems Engineering), Kaizu (Faculty of Education, a faculty staff of Japanese history), Kashiwabara (Faculty of Education, a faculty staff of Japanese language), Ishikawa (attached junior high school of Faculty of Education), Nishibata, Tada, Kuno, Nakamura, Takenaka, and Tomita (Astronomy Seminar group of Faculty of Education).


Before the meeting, Iwami-san of office staff showed us to the exhibition room of the Kishu Research Institute (pic). At the beginning of the meeting, Tomita explained the future plan of cooperation between Wakaten consortium and Kishu Research Institute. Then, Yaji-san talked about Hatanaka Takeo-san, who was a great astronomer born in Shingu City, Wakayama Prefecture. (pic1, pic2). Kamitamari-san talked about Takagi Takeo-san who built Wakayama Tenmon-kan. Kamitamari-san also reported about Mars Symposium held at Nishi-Harima Astronomical Observatory, Hyogo. After the meeting, we also enjoyed the exhibition of the Kishu Research Institute.


We discussed about the cooperation with Kaizu-san. Recently, Kawabe Cosmic Park has been visited by many Korean tourists. Kashiwabara-san kindly offered help for translation into Korean.


Next meeting will be held on 19 May at 7th Seminar Room.

12 April 2003 (Saturday)


Retirement memorial party for Norimoto Yuji-san and Watanabe Etsuji-san was held at Ark Hotel Okayama, Okayama. They had worked for more than 40 years, which is longer than my life. I also said thank you to Watanabe Mineko-san who retired last year for her hospitality.

10 (Thursday) - 11 (Friday) April 2003


The training stay for freshpersons of Faculty of Education, Wakayama University was held. I joined as a member of the Student Committee. We stayed at Kishu-Kada National Park Resort Village. Students visited Tomoga-shima island ( a view of Tomoga-shima island from the hotel).


Purposes of the stay are promotion of friendship and guidance of university life ( guidance of Natural Environment Course). Anyway, I got tired. I have aged???

1 (Tuesday) - 4 (Friday) April 2003


Okayama Observation Class was held at Okayama Astrophysical Observatory from 13:30 on 2 to 12:00 on 4 (pic). On 1, we prepared the schedule, room, and computers. Four students of Faculty of Science, Okayama University, and four students of Faculty of Science, Hiroshima University stayed at observatory. On the first day, some other students including senior high school students joined the class. Using IRAF on RedHat Lunix machines, they measured radial velocities of four galaxies distances of which were estimated from the type Ia supernovae observations. They found the Hubble constant of 65 plus-minus 10 [(km/s)/Mpc], which was a good estimate.


Anyway, we found many fat cats (pic).