Akihiko Tago

Akihiko Tago (多胡 昭彦, Tago Akihiko, born 1932) is a Japanese amateur astronomer.

He co-discovered several comets, including C/1968 H1 (Tago-Honda-Yamamoto), C/1969 T1 (Tago-Sato-Kosaka), C/1987 B1 (Nishikawa-Takamizawa-Tago). At the Satsuki Observatory established in 1996, Tago has supported and encouraged amateur astronomers in Yanahara, Okayama. Asteroid 7830 Akihikotago was named to honor his dedication.

He also discovered several novas, including V1493 Aql Archived 2008-11-20 at the Wayback Machine (Nova Aquilae 1999), V2275 Cyg Archived 2008-05-09 at the Wayback Machine (Nova Cygni 2001 no. 2),[1] V574 Pup Archived 2008-09-30 at the Wayback Machine (Nova Puppis 2004), V2467 Cyg Archived 2008-07-04 at the Wayback Machine (Nova Cygni 2007) and V459 Vul Archived 2008-07-20 at the Wayback Machine (Nova Vulpeculae 2007 no.2).[2]

In 2006 he was the first astronomer to discover a micro-lensing system outside the Magellanic Clouds[3] and the bulge of our Milky Way. The star GSC 3656-1328 suddenly brightened by four magnitudes in two weeks time and returned to its normal brightness two weeks later. A red or a brown dwarf star passed exactly in front of GSC 3656-1328 and the gravity of the dwarf star directed more light to the observers on Earth.[4][5]

He lives in Tsuyama, Okayama.[6]

  1. ^ Katō, Taichi (2001-08-20). "多胡昭彦さん、はくちょう座に明るい新星を発見 【2001年8月20日 VSOLJ ニュース (069) (2001.08.20)】" [Mr.Akihiko Taichi discovered a bright nova at Cygnus, per VSOLJ News, no.069]. VSOLJ News (in Japanese). No. August 2001. Author's name in Japanese is加藤太一 (Katō, Taichi)). Tokyo, Japan: VSOLJ (Variable Star Observers League in Japan). Archived from the original on 2016-04-07. Retrieved 30 September 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. ^ "TA finder charts". The Astronomer. Archived from the original on 3 February 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
  3. ^ "TAGO Event (Near-Field Microlensing) and Structure of the Galaxy" (PDF). 科学研究費補助金研究成果報告 (Research accomplishment report, Grants‐in‐aid for Scientific Research) (in Japanese). Kaken. 2011-06-28. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  4. ^ Michael Richmond; Tom Droege (Nov 20, 2006). "Tech Note 104: Mark IV photometry of Var Cas 2006". Archived from the original on 2012-09-17. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
  5. ^ Waagen, Elizabeth O (June 22, 2016). "Bright New Variable in Cassiopeia". AAVSO Special Notice. 22. Unfiltered CCD observations by Tago include October 25.538 UT, 10.7; 27.409, 10.5; 30.411, 8.8; 31.469, 7.5. Tago used a 70-mm f/3.2 lens and a Canon EOS 20Da digital camera (limiting magnitude 12).
  6. ^ "【津山人】多胡昭彦さん（日本のアマチュア天文家）" [Mr.Akihiko Tago, a Japanese amateur astronomer]. 津山瓦版 (Tsuyama News Sheet) (in Japanese). Tsuyama, Okayama: AD Design Inc. Retrieved 30 September 2016.