The number of registrations for star names at a Hokkaido observatory reached 10,000 this spring, with the 10,000th star named for a former engineer at the observatory who died in April.
At the Shosanbetsu Astronomical Observatory in the village of Shosanbetsu, Hokkaido, visitors can name small stars that are currently unnamed. The "My Stars System" for registering star names began in 1995. There are about 200,000 unnamed stars and visitors can choose from among them.
The 10,000th registration of a star name was on April 30 for "Shine Star KURODA," named after Hiroaki Kuroda, a former employee of the observatory. Kuroda had died at the age of 63 the day before, on April 29. A friend of Kuroda's registered the star's name in memory of him. The star located in Gemini was chosen because Kuroda was born on May 28 and was thus a Gemini.
Kuroda had liked astronomical observation since he was a child, and when the Shosanbetsu Astronomical Observatory opened in July 1989, he quit his job as a company employee and began working there. He worked at the observatory until March of this year and he played a central role in the "My Stars System."
The head of education in the village said, "Perhaps 'Shine Star KURODA' can convey Mr. Kuroda's dream to anyone who sees his star."
The observatory is located on a cape overlooking the Sea of Japan and has a reflecting telescope with a diameter of 65 centimeters.
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