Akira Fujii

Akira Fujii
Born(1941-01-12)12 January 1941
Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan
Died28 December 2022(2022-12-28) (aged 81)

Akira Fujii (藤井 旭, Fujii Akira, 12 January 1941 – 28 December 2022) was a Japanese astrophotographer and astronomer. PBS has described him as "the world's foremost wide-angle astrophotographer".[1]

Fujii graduated from Tama Art University in 1961, and began working at observatories, producing a substantial bibliography of general-audience astronomy books. In 1974, Fujii began Japan's first star party, the "Invitation to Starlit Skies", which he hosted on Mount Azuma until 1984.[2]

Fujii's work is marketed by David Malin;[3] he collaborated with Serge Brunier in the production of 2001's Great Atlas of the Stars.[4]

The main-belt asteroid 3872 Akirafujii is named in his honor.[5]

Fujii died on 28 December 2022, at the age of 81.[6]

  1. ^ About "Seeing in the Dark", by Timothy Ferris; published March 2008; retrieved 22 June 2011
  2. ^ The History of Tainai Star Party, by Shigemi Numazawa, first published in Sky and Telescope, July 2002; archived at tainai.jp; retrieved 22 June 2011
  3. ^ Astronomical Photographs from David Malin Images, by David Malin; published 30 August 2009; retrieved 22 June 2011
  4. ^ Nonfiction Notes at Publishers Weekly, Volume 248 Issue 40 10 January 2001; retrieved 22 June 2011
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference springer was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "天体写真家の藤井旭さん死去 81歳 私設天文台の台長に愛犬チロ 著書「星になったチロ」など― スポニチ" [Astrophotographer Akira Fujii passes away at the age of 81. Director of private observatory and pet dog Chiro]. Sponichi Annex. 30 December 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.