Naoto Satō Explained

Minor planets discovered: 142 

see

is a Japanese amateur astronomer, discoverer of minor planets, and, by profession, a junior high school science teacher. As a planetarian, a member of the professional staff of a planetarium, he has done much for the spread of astronomy in Japan through speaking on planetaria and the results of astronomical observation.

In 2001, while working as support staff at JK1ZAM, the club station of Iruma Children’s Center (an educational institution for children in Iruma City), he helped achieve the first ARISS school contact in Japan. Also, in 2003, as a coordinating teacher, he helped accomplish the first solo contact between a junior high school in Japan and the ISS, with the support of JK1ZAM. He regularly spoke on the astronomical talk program Sunset Café at the local radio station "FM CHAPPY 77.7" from December 2006 to November 2008. He held the position of vice-director on the board of the Saitama Planetarium Liaison Council (2007–2008). He supports ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station), which is a program that offers students an opportunity to experience the excitement of amateur radio by talking directly with crew members of the ISS (International Space Station).

The Eos main-belt asteroid 6025 Naotosato, which Takeshi Urata discovered in 1992, was named after him.

Discoveries of minor planets

Since 1995, Satō has discovered a large number of minor planets from his own Chichibu Astronomical Observatory at Chichibu, including asteroids such as 7038 Tokorozawa, 7851 Azumino, 8581 Johnen, 8924 Iruma, 9418 Mayumi and 118230 Sado. He is ranked among the top 50 asteroid discoverers in the world (The Astronomy Yearbook – 2008). The Minor Planet Center credits him with the discovery of 142 minor planets during 1995–1998, of which 18 were co-discoveries with astronomer Takeshi Urata (also see table). Naoto Satō is also known for the prediscovery of C/1989 Y2, a parabolic comet credited to McKenzie–Russell.

List

	22 February 1995	 
	29 December 1996
	28 December 1996
	14 December 1996
	6 January 1997
	29 December 1996
	18 November 1995	 
	26 October 1997
	6 November 1996
	31 December 1997
	16 November 1995	 
	16 November 1995	 
	3 January 1997
	30 January 1997
	12 January 1996	 
	2 January 1997
	3 January 1997
	9 January 1997
	3 January 1997
	9 February 1997
	23 November 1997
	27 February 1997
	25 October 1997
	21 October 1995	 
	27 November 1995	 

	2 January 1997
	6 February 1997
	19 November 1997
	21 December 1997
	20 October 1995	 
	6 November 1996
	6 November 1996
	1 December 1996
	20 October 1995	 
	13 January 1996	 
	6 November 1996
	6 January 1997
	18 January 1997
	17 December 1995
	1 December 1996
	1 March 1997
	9 February 1997
	13 October 1995	 
	8 December 1996
	30 December 1996
	6 January 1997
	1 February 1997
	18 November 1998
	9 December 1998
	3 December 1997

	3 December 1997
	17 December 1995	 
	23 November 1997
	25 December 1997
	6 November 1996
	26 October 1997
	6 November 1997
	23 November 1997
	11 November 1998
	12 November 1998
	9 January 1997
	9 January 1997
	25 December 1997
	11 November 1998
	1 December 1996
	14 December 1996
	29 December 1996
	9 January 1997
	27 February 1997
	21 December 1997
	5 January 1998
	1 December 1996
	30 December 1996
	1 February 1997
	23 November 1997

	3 December 1997
	25 December 1997
	6 February 1997
	21 December 1997
	21 December 1997
	1 December 1996
	14 December 1996
	24 December 1997
	18 January 1996	 
	9 January 1997
	26 October 1997
	6 February 1997
	13 October 1995	 
	1 December 1996
	30 December 1996
	6 November 1997
	23 November 1997
	11 November 1998
	23 November 1997
	17 December 1995	 
	25 October 1997
	25 October 1997
	26 October 1997
	26 October 1997
	3 December 1997

	21 December 1997
	8 December 1996
	21 October 1995	 
	8 December 1996
	2 January 1997
	3 January 1997
	25 December 1997
	2 January 1997
	24 December 1997
	30 November 1996
	8 December 1996
	6 November 1997
	19 November 1997
	3 December 1997
	1 February 1997
	6 February 1997
	3 December 1997
	3 December 1997
	24 December 1997
	24 November 1995	 
	1 December 1996
	25 December 1997
	5 January 1998
	11 November 1998
	30 November 1996

	1 December 1996
	26 October 1997
	18 November 1998
	19 November 1997
	16 November 1995	 
	29 December 1996
	1 December 1996
	11 November 1998
	23 November 1997
	11 November 1998
	21 December 1997
	3 December 1997
	15 January 1997
	2 January 1997
	23 November 1997
	3 December 1997
	31 December 1997
Co-discovery made with: T. Urata

See also

• List of minor planet discoverers